75 ESS4Y ON THE 



lai-Jon of Mciga, or Magus, was that of the priests, among the Persid7ts:. 

 and from them, it passed to the laity, a^d to the whole nation, according 

 to T. Hyde, Col. S^'mes says exa6]:ly the same thing, in speaking of the 

 Mag as or Mugs of Aracan, As the Magi were apt to make an improper 

 use of their knowledge, the words Magia, Madiagistia, Magi, or magi- 

 cians, became terms of reproach. Thus, in Persia, the appellation of 

 philosopltas, or philosopher , which they pronounce Filsouf, signifies .a crafty 

 and wicked man. 



' Thus we see, that the Magas or Magi extended from the White Isla?id, 

 in the west, to Persia, India, Aracan and the Burman empire: for, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Buchanan, the people of A'vd consider the Magas of 

 Aracan as their ancestors. They have spread their dodirine into Ceylon^ 

 and Siam ; where their sacred language is called Magad'hi, as well as 

 Pali or Bali. According tp Ptolemy's interpreter, the Tabassi, a na- 

 tion in India, were Magogs or Magi. In the text we read, " AithnoS' 

 '* mega, a great nation:'* but it appears, that this was not the case, from 

 their name, Tapaswi in Sanscrit , or Tahasa, according to the pronuncia- 

 tion of the inhabitants of the Malabar Coast, and which signifies a religi- 

 ous man performing tapas or austere penance, and given up to contemp- 

 lation. Ptolemy mentions the island of the Magi in the Red Sea, and 

 the Bay of the Magi in the Persian Gulf, Ireland was called also Miic, 

 which Gen. Valancey derives very properly from Mogh, Miigh and 

 Muc. Pliny says, that from the great resemblance of ceremonies in re- 

 ligious worship, and other pra6tices anK)ng the Persians and druids, one 

 might be induced tp believe, that Magia ^ or Magt'sm^ had passed from 

 Britain into Persia^ 



Thus the Magas and Magism, form an interrupted chain from Britain. 



