378 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



tended themfelves through the neighbouring mountains. 

 As the Cufhites grew populous, they occupied thofe that were 

 next them, fpreading the induftry and arts which they cul- 

 tivated, as well to the eaftern as to the weftern ocean, but, 

 content with their firft choice, they never defcended from 

 their caves, nor chofe to refide at a diftance on the plain. 



It is very angular that St Jerome does not know where 

 to look for this family, or defcendents of Cufh ; though 

 they are as plainly pointed out, and as often alluded to by 

 fcripture, as any nation in the Old Teftament. They are 

 defcribed, moreover, by the particular circumftances of 

 their country, which have never varied, to be in the very 

 place where I now fix them, and where, ever iince, they 

 have remained, and ftill do to this prefent hour, in the fame 

 moat ains, and the fame lioufes of ilone they formed for 

 themfelves in the beginning. And yet Bochart *, profef- 

 fedly treating this fubject, as it were induftriouily, involves 

 it in more than Egyptian darkncfs. I rather refer the 

 reader to his work, to judge for himfelf, than, quoting it 

 by extracts, communicate the confuiion of his ideas to my 

 narrative. 



The Abyffinian tradition further fays, they built the city 

 of Axum feme time early in the days of Abraham. Soon 

 after this, they pufhed their colony down to Atbara, where 

 we know from Herodotus *, they early and fuccefs fully 

 purfued their ftudies, from which, Jofephus fays|, they were 

 called Meroetes, or inhabitants of the ifland of Meroe. 



The 



* Boch. lib. 4. cap., 3. f Herod, lib. 2.. cap, 29. X Jofeph. antiquit. Jud. 



