10 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



7. Ethiopians. 



We have already spoken of this tribe, when treating of the Egyptians. 

 They are alluded to in the earliest known legends, and they seem to have 

 spread over a vast extent of territory. In the progress of time, however, 

 the name was applied separately to the nations living in modern Nubia, 

 Aby?sinia, Adel, &c., as far as Cape Prasum (Dulgado). 



Of all thes6 states, Meroe was the most distinguished for industry, 

 civilization, and refinement. In no ancient country, perhaps, were religion 

 and its ceremonies more respected. See (pi. 6, figs. 23, 24) the head-dress 

 of Ethiopian monarchs, 



A large peninsula, formed by the rivers Astaboras (Laccazze) in the west, 

 and Astaphus (Bahr el Abiad), properly an arm of the Nile, in the east, 

 composes the modern kingdom of Senaar in Nubia, and the northern 

 portion of Abyssinia. This was the ancient Meroe, where, at an early 

 date, the priests formed a very powerful caste. 



West of Meroe was the land of the Nubians, beyond these the Sem- 

 britians, while the Macrobians occupied the south along the coast of the 

 [ndian Ocean. The Troglodytes, a race of traders and cattle breeders, 

 lived on the coast of the Red Sea, from the limits of Egypt to Cape Dire. 

 During the rainy season they retired to large caves in the rocks. 



Ancient Numidia answered to modern Algiers. It contained several 

 important cities, among which we name Cirta, the capital. PI. 6, fig. 

 25, represents the head-dress of a Numidian king. 



Mauritania lay westward from Numidia, from w^hLsh it was separated 

 by the River Ampsaga. It constituted the north-western portion of Africa, 

 and had a valuable and extensive coast on the Mediterranean. Its 

 inhabitants, the Moors, were unequalled in horsemanship, and the use of the 

 bow and lance, like their modern descendants. PI. 4, fig. 2, shows the 

 apparel of an ancient Mauritanian. 



The Carthaginians, a North- African nation, sprang from a colony of 

 Phoenicians. The city was founded by Dido, queen of Tyre. As we shall 

 return to the Carthaginians when speaking of Rome, we close this notice 

 by a reference to [pi. 6, figs. 55-57) Carthaginian coins, exhibiting also 

 the common head-dress of the citizens ; and pi. 4, fig. \, the costume of a 

 Carthaginian king. 



8. Arabians and Armenians. 



Legend generally attributes the origin of the xirabians to Ishmael, the 

 son of Abraham and his bond-woman Hagar. The Arabians designate as 

 the father of their race, Kahton or Joctan, the ancestor of Abraham. The 

 northern provinces can never have been occupied by any powerful state, 

 as will appear from Moses' expeditions, and the easy conquest of the country 

 by David and Solomon. Yet the whole peninsula was never completely 

 subjugated by any foreign conquerors. The vast deserts, the free and 

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