A discourse of the terrestrial paradise aiming at a more probable discovery of the true situation of that happy place of our first parents habitation / by Marmaduke Carver ...

CHAP. XI.

A Confirmation of the former Assertion, by proving that the Regions through which this River passeth were anci∣ently called Aethiopia.

BUT if any now begin to wonder to hear of Aethiopians in these parts, (as no doubt but this with other Observations in this Discovery will seem strange at first to prejudicate minds) I hope they will rest satisfied when they shall have heard the Testimony of so many credible Authors as have affirmed it. For howsoever the name of Aethiopia be now in a manner appro∣priated to that Region of Africk which commonly goes under the name of the Kingdom of the Abassines, or Prester John; yet the ancient Aethiopians were at first Inhabitants about this River, from whence

they passed into Africk, and no doubt car∣ried their name along with them. So much is observed by S. Augustine, (or who∣ever else was the Author of that Book) De Mirabilib. S. Script. l. 1. where having taken notice first of that Countrey that vul∣garly goes under the name of Aethiopia, he adds, Aethiopiam alteram esse in multis locis Historiarum Scripturae describunt. De qua in Ecclesiastica Historia scribitur, quòd ex parte Indiae adhaeret. Et in Chronicis Canonicis Eusebii refertur, (viz. An. Mun∣di 3580) quòd Aethiopes ab Indo flumine consurgentes, juxta Aethiopiam (juxta Ae∣gyptum Euseb.) consederunt. Ex quo intelligitur, quòd terra illa in qua primitus Aethiopes habitaverunt, Aethiopia dicta esse potuerit. What that Countrey was, we may in part gather from Nicephorus Hist. Ecclesiast. l. 9. c. 18. where, among other of these Removers, he names the Assyrians, whose Countrey he had formerly in the same Chapter called India, (even as the African Aethiopians also were called In∣dians) and a great part of it (as hath been said) was compassed with this River Indus: for having spoken of the Auxumita, (the most eminent Tribe amongst them) he adds, Ante hos verò ad extimum pertingen∣tes

Oceanum, Orientem versus, Assyrii: apud quos etian hanc appellationem habent, quos Alexander Macedo, ex Syria pulsos, Colonos eò deduxit. Ii ad hoc usque tempus patriâ utuntur linguâ. And seeing the identity of Language is the surest proof of the identity of Nations, we may well sup∣pose that the rest of these Removers also were anciently their near neighbours, see∣ing the vulgar Language of these Aethiopi∣ans at this day (as themselves confess, and Scaliger delivers for certain) is no other then the ancient Chaldee; which to have been the Language of the Assyrians also, and other adjacent Regions, (with little or no variation) is more evident then can be denied. Yea, of so large extent was this title of Aethiopia, that the Chaldaeans themselves may seem to have come under the compass of it. For Tacitus, Hist. l. 5. speaking of the Antiquity of the Jews, tells us, that most Writers held them to be Ae∣thiopum prolem, whose ancestors notwith∣standing we all know came from Ur of the Chaldees. And in like manner Strabo notes Phoenicia by some to have been called Ae∣thiopia, Geog. l. 1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Which as it is evident in the story of Per∣seus

fetching Andromeda from Aethiopia, (say the Poets) which was indeed from Joppa, where Cepheus her Father was King, and where the bones of that Monster (slain by Perseus) were to be seen many Ages after: so might Strabo, by the help of that Obser∣vation, have better understood that much debated Verse in Homer, which, after long sifting, he leaves at length with a far less probable interpretation. Homer. Odyss. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 81.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Aethiopes adii, tum Sidonios & Erembos.

All which Menelaus might well doe, and yet never pass out of the Mediterranean Sea; for the truth is, all these were neigh∣bour-Nations, dwelling along the Sea-coast betwixt Aegypt and Cilicia: the Aethio∣pians about Joppa, the Sidonians in their own then-famous City; and the Erembi were either the Arabians, or rather the Sy∣rians, whom the Scripture calleth Aramites, and were anciently known to the Heathen under the same name Aramaei, as Strabo in the same place testifies. But my purpose is not to pursue the utmost extent of this word, which alone might serve to fill a Volume, seeing, (as the same Strabo testi∣fies l. 1.) anciently the better part of the

Habitable World went under the name of Aethiopia: but confining my search with∣in its due limits, it shall suffice me to men∣tion those Aethiopians onely whom (as Moses and Pausanias tell us) the River Gi∣hon compasseth, or courseth by. For, as Ainsworth on Gen. 2. 11. noteth, the Ori∣ginal word is sometime used for turning and passing along by, though not round about; as in Jos. 15. 3. and 16. 6. where the Greek translates it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pass by: and so he supposeth it to be taken by Moses. Now if we take a review of this River, even from its Fountain to its Out-let, we may discover some scattered mention of Aethio∣pia and Aethiopians. For as touching its Spring-head, we have heard Aethicus (be∣fore cited) placing it in or about Aethiopia: Fluvius Tigris etiam ipse de Monte Cauca∣so quasi visitur natus, cùm aestivis tempo∣ribus sub humo eum desuper Aethiopiam currere ex viriditate superni cespitis pro∣datur. The Inhabitants of Sagrus or Za∣grus (a Mountain that lay to the back of this River in a good part of its Course) are observed to be a Nation of Aethiopians; for so Hesychius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (lege 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Province of Elymais with the adjoyning Territories (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) are by Epiphanius in Ancho∣ret. n. 58. expresly placed in Aethiopia. And for the Inhabitants of Susiana, that they went anciently under the name of Ae∣thiopians, we have a Testimony of as great antiquity as the evidence of any Heathen History will reach: for Memnon, who came from Susa to the aid of Priamus in the Trojan Warr, is by the ancientest Writers called Aethiopum Rex. So Hesiod in The∣ogonia,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉— Ast Aurora parit Tithono Memnona for∣tem, Aethiopum Regem—

So accordingly Pindarus, Olymp. Od. 2. calls him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Aurorae fi∣lium Aethiopem. And Pausanias, Phoc. sive l. 10. mentioning a Table in which Memnon's Picture was drawn, adds; Prope Memnonem nudus est puer ex Aethiopia; quōd nempe Aethiopum Rex fuit Memnon. Venit enim ad Bellum Trojanum non ex Aethiopia, sed à Susis Persarum urbe, debel∣latis iis omnibus Nationibus quae mediae sunt usque ad Choascum (Choaspem) flu∣men. And the like hath Diod. Sic. Bibli∣othec.

l. 3. c. 6. Cùm Priamus bello oppres∣sus, ab Rege Theutamo praesidium, utpote Assyriis subditus, per Legatos postulâsset; ille decem millia Aethiopum, totidémque Susianos, cum ducentis curribus, duce Mem∣none, ad Trojam misit. That he reckoneth the Susians apart from the Aethiopians, it is not because they also were not Aethiopi∣ans, but because he had conquered some other Nations lying about Susiana, whom therefore he notes under this more gene∣ral name of Aethiopians; and immediately after calls them by the like general name of Persians, for so it followeth; Erattunc Titho∣nus, (Memnonis pater) Praefectus Persarum, acceptus maximè Regi. And so those Persians which the Athenians, under the conduct of Miltiades, overthrew in the Plains of Mara∣thon, were pictured under the habit of Ae∣thiopians, in a Viall which the Statue of Ne∣mesis held in her right hand, formed by Phi∣dias out of that Marble stone which the ene∣mies had brought with them, and presum∣ptuously designed for a Monument of their own Victorie, Pausan. Attic. sive l. 1. Which is a thing so clear, that it is strange so great an Antiquary as Pausanias was should stick at it; who dreaming onely of Aethiopians in A∣frick, professes he knew not what to make

of it. So great a lett is Prejudice to the dis∣cerning of the truth. Nor is that to be neglected which Strabo notes, Geog. l. 15. that Aeschylus called the Mother of this fore-mentioned Memnon 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which we must not take for her proper name, (for that was Aurora, say the Poets) but no∣men gentilitium, taken from the Countrey where she lived, viz. Susiana. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (saith Strabo in the same place) Susii enim etiam Cissii dicti sunt: or rather Cossaei, as himself and other Geo∣graphers call them for the most part; of whom frequent mention is made in Histo∣ries, especially in the Life of Alexander, before whose time (as it may seem) they had enlarged themselves farther then the bounds of Susiana, and possessed not onely the Mountains that lay betwixt it and Per∣sia, but spred themselves up Northward all along the back of this River into di∣vers scattered portions of Mount Taurus, not onely Eastward as far as Media, but Westward also even to the Fountains of Tigris. Plin. l. 6. c. 27. Susianis ad Orien∣tem versus junguntur Cossaei latrones. In which place Strabo also finds them, and enlarging their Bounds yet farther towards the North-east, Geograph. l. 11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Media major definitur versus Ortum Parthiâ & Montibus Cossaeorum. Sunt hi Latrociniis dediti, & aliquando sagittariorum XIII millia eduxerunt, Ely∣maeis suppetias ferentes contra Susios ac Babylonios. Nearchus ait, Cùm quatuor sunt populi praedando viventes, de quibus Mardi Persis contigui erant, Uxii & Ely∣maei iisdem atque Susiis, Cossaei Medis; omnes eos tributa à Regibus exegisse. Cos∣saeos autem munera etiam accipere, cùm Rex aestate Ecbatanis transactâ in Babylo∣niam descendit: nimiam tamen eorum au∣daciam ab Alexandro fuisse compressam,

cùm cos hyeme adortus esset. His ergò Me∣dia versus Ortum definitur; ac Paraetacenis praeterea, qui contigui Persis, ipsi quoque Montana incolunt, & Latrocinia exercent. Which Testimony I have therefore recited at large, that in it we may see the warlike spirits and ancient power of this Nation, such as to impose Tribute upon the grea∣test Kings, untill they were subdued by Alexander. Dionysius Afer remembreth them under the name of Cissii, (as Herodo∣tus also doth oftner then once) and sets them toward the North of Babylonia, com∣prehending under that name Assyria, (as others also do:)

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. At supra Babylona vides Aquilonis ad oras Cissos, Messabatásque, Chalonitásque fe∣roces.

That the Cissii or Cossaei are placed adjoy∣ning to the Messabatae, is agreeable to that of Pliny, l. 6. c. 27. Susianis ab Oriente proximi sunt Cossaei; supra Cossaeos ad Septentrionem Mesobatene. Indeed Ptole∣my placeth the Messabatae in Persia; but Strabo saith it was a Region of Elymaës; and haply it was adjoyning to the borders

of them both: about which place that the Cossaei were their neighbours, is farther at∣tested by Dom. Marius Niger, Geog. Asiae, Com. 5. Susianae partem Septentrionalem Cossaei tenent, regiuncula haud fertilis, tota enim montuosa est, per quam Cosaeus amnis transit. Homines sagittarii, qui Latroci∣nia exercent. That Cosaeus amnis I take to be the same that in Aethicus is called fluvius Susa, which (as he describes it) in Media Provincia nascitur, bicornis; effi∣citur unus: currit millia 504, descendit in Sinum Persicum. Whereupon Jos. Sim∣lerus passeth this not improbable Con∣jecture: Intelligo fluvium juxta quem est Susa Urbs, hoc est, Eulaeum: quem bicor∣nem dicit, quoniam duos habet Fontes, unum in Susiana, alterum in Media, Zagro Mon∣te, qui infra Susa in unum confluunt. And it may be Josephus meant no other River but this, when he fetched the Original of the Samaritans Ancestours à flumine Cutho. True, he sets that River in Persia, and makes the people a Persian Nation. Antiq. Jud. l. 9. c. ult. Deinde migrare jussâ Persicâ quadam gente ex eo tractu qui ab amne Cutho denominatur, sedes ei designavit in agro Samariae, caeterâque Israelitarum regi∣one. Et paulò pòst; Caeterùm novi Sa∣mariae

coloni Chuthaei: sic enim tum appella∣bantur, quòd à Persidis regione Chutha & flumine Chutho essent traducti, &c. But if we remember that Ptolemy also placeth Messabatene in Persis, (where farther with∣in land he finds a Nation likewise of the Susaei) and consider also how largely the name of Persia was taken in the time of Josephus, this will breed no great diffe∣rence. Yet I do not assent unto Josephus, that this people took their name from the River, but rather the River from them; which if it were one of the Horns of Eulaeus, or rather a Stream that fell into it, or received it, it may well seem to have been no other River then this we have discoursed upon. And that it should take the name of fluvius Chuthaeus is nothing improbable, because (as Moses saith) it watered the whole land of Chus. And indeed the Cossaei did border upon it, not onely here in Mesobatene, where they inhabited upon Mount Zagrus, but all along its Course to its Spring, upon those Mountains that lay to the back of Assyria even to Armenia; where having formerly seated themselves, they straggled afterward farther Eastward into Media and Persia, and possessed divers Mountainous places in those Countries, even to the bor∣ders

of India, (though not without some change of their Name.) So much I learn from Strabo, who, speaking of the Nor∣thern parts of Media, writes thus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Quod autem ad Septentrionem vergit, montosum, asperum, & frigidum est: ubi degunt Ca∣dusii montani, Amardi, Tapyri, Cyrtii, aliique id genus; qui & aliunde in ista migraverunt loca, & sunt Latrones. Za∣grus enim & Niphates istas gentes sparsas habent: & qui in Persia sunt Cartii & A∣mardi (sic enim vocant Mardos) & qui in Armenia sunt eodem hodiéque nomine cen∣sentur, eundémque habitum tenent. By which Testimony it is evident, that the Cartii and Mardi or Amardi in Media and Persia were originally descended from the Cartii and Mardi in Armenia and the Mountains adjoyning to it; where we need not doubt to find them, seeing Ptolemy,

reckoning up the Countries that lay East to the Fountains of Tigris, nameth Gor∣dene, & quae magis Orientalis Cortaea, & qui sub ipsa sunt Mardi; who yet were of the same progeny with their neighbours, though attaining this different name: which as it is well observed by learned Mr. Fuller, so it may be farther confirmed by compa∣ring the Writers of Alexander's Conquest of these Nations; for those whom Arria∣nus calleth Mardos, Curtius calleth Cardos. And it is very probable (which he conje∣ctures) that this name was given them in stomach by their neighbours the Assyrians, because they could not conquer them: for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is as much as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 deficere, and in the Chaldee 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is Apostata or Rebellis; and such they were alwaies to the Assyrian Monarchs, who undertaking to invade them, were put to the worst, and their Armies wholly routed by them, as a Native of those parts told Xenophon. Which doubtless was the reason why Adramelech and Sha∣rezer, having slain their Father Sennacherib, fled into the land of Ararat (where this Nation dwelt) for protection. As for the Cartii, which Strabo more usually calleth Curtii, as also the Cordi, Cordiaei, (and Gordiaei) Cardueni, Carduchi, &c. that they

were originally Cossaei, their name it self (notwithstanding all this alteration) may evince. For, by the light alteration of an S into an R, Cossaei at the first became Cortii, and Curtii, and Cartii; afterward Cardi, and Cordi, and Gordii, and Gordiaei, &c. And hereof we may gather a good argu∣ment from the different writing of their Countrie's name in Ptolemy. For whereas Maginus and Marius Niger have it Cortaea; Ortelius, in his Nomenclator Ptolemaicus, (with others) hath it Cotaea; which anci∣ently to have been Cosaea or Cossaea none will deny that knows how customary it is in the Syriack Tongue to change S into T, (as hath already been observed.) And see∣ing this Countrey lay so near the River that watered the land of Chus, and the Name answereth so exactly to it, (for how small is the difference betwixt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and Cotaea?) I should rather incline to believe that this might be the more likely place from whence that Colony was transplanted into Samaria; not onely because it lay nearer to those places remembred in the Catalogue of the Assyrian Conquests, as Gozan, and Haran, and Reseph, and the Children of Eden which were in Thelasar; but also because the captive Israelites (who seem to have

changed Countries with them) were be∣stowed here-abouts. 2 Kings, 17. 6. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the King of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria; and placed them in Halah, and in Habor, by the River of Gozan, and in the Cities of the Medes. As we have former∣ly noted Halach or Chalach to be Chala∣chena; so Habor or Chabor was either Al-Chabur, which Geog. Nub. sets in the North of Assyria, or else some Region in Mount Coathras, which in the Greek Copies of Ptolemy is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Gozan gave name to a double Region, (but both adjoyning to these parts) the one in Meso∣potamia, the other in Media. And for the Cities of the Medes, I suppose not one∣ly Amedon is meant, (which Geog. Nub. calls Hamadan, Benjamin Tudelensis Hem∣dan, and saith (in Itinerario) that he found therein near upon 50000 Israelites) but all other Cities in that Countrey, out of which those Nations were drawn that were sent with the Chuthites to make up that Samaritan Colony, and are thus reckoned Ezra 4. 9. The Dinaei, Aparsathcaei, Tape∣laei, Aparsaei, Arcavaei, Babylonii, Susan∣chaei, Dehavaei, and Helamaei: which (o∣mitting the Babylonians and Susanchites,

which are well enough known without a Commentary) are expounded by Junius to be the Dennani, (or Dani, or most com∣monly Daii, joyned with the Mardi by Herodot. l. 1.) the Paraetaceni, the Tapyri, the Persae, the Araceni, (or Inhabitants of Oracana, a City of Media in Ptol.) the Daritae, called also Zapovorteni, (or rather the Debae, so called by contraction for De∣habae) and the Inhabitants of Elymaïs, the ancient neighbours of the Cossaei. Nor am I any thing deterred from this opinion by that of Abrabaniel, who makes Cuth or Cutha a City of the Chaldaeans: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Cuth est Civitas alia in Chaldaeorum regione. For as the name of Chaldaea is found given to other Regions beside that which lies upon Baby∣lonia; so this in which the Curdi dwelt is commonly known to the Arabians by that name. Leunclavius, Pandect. Turc. nu. 232. A vicinis Persis & Turcis ea Regio Cur∣distan appellatur, quam nunc quoque Keldan vocant Arabes, id est, Chaldaeam. And so much Stephanus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. had observed: Chaldia, Regio Armeniae. Incolae Chaldi. But other Chaldi in Armenia there are none but the Cardi, formerly called Cartii and Curtii, and at the first Cossaei.

As for the name of Scythae, which Heathen Authors give this Nation, as it was sutable enough to them in regard of their often flitting and wandring, (for Historians repre∣sent them to us like right Nomades, and therefore they are not unjustly called by Strabo 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) so no doubt but it was taken from their well-known name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as the City Bethsan, which was re-edified and re-peopled by them, is famously known by the name of Scythopolis. Plin. l. 5. c. 18. Scythopolin, antea Nisam, Libero Patre, sepultâ Nutrice ibi, Scythis deductis; id est, Chuthaeis. And so the Countrey from whence they came is from ultimate Anti∣quity remembred by the Heathen under the name of Scythia, being indeed Cotaea or Chutha; which lying so near (as it doth) to the Mount Gordiaeus, where the Ark is said to rest after the Deluge, I doubt not but it might be made appear by good proof, that this was that Scythia Saga, in qua renatum ferunt mortale genus: Cato in Frag. But the clearing of this would lead us into too large a Digression; and there∣fore I forbear it, and proceed to the prose∣cution of the subject in hand. Seeing the Radical Letters in the Original were the same (save the different pronunciation of a

Vowel) in all those several names of Cissii, Cossaei, Cuthaei, and Susii; we need not doubt to affirm, that these were indeed the true and primitive Aethiopians, whom the In∣habitants of Asia (as Josephus hath told us) called Chusaei. And hence it appears that their Etymologie is false that have derived the name of Susiana from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which in the Persian Tongue (they say) as well as the Hebrew signifies a Lilly. I will not deny but Sushan the Palace, and haply Susa the City (whence those Susanchites Ezra 4. 9.) might take their denomination from that Root; but certainly that Region whose ancient name was Cissia, (still continuing to a part of this Province in Ptolemy's time) and the name of the Inhabitants not onely Cissii but Cossaei, could have no other ori∣ginal of their denomination then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And hereof the Inhabitants themselves give us good assurance, who (even to this day) call their Countrey, not Susiana, but Cusistan, which is neither more nor less then the Country of Chus. Benjamin in Itin. calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cuzestan; others call it Cure∣stan, even as Chus the son of Cham is by Berosus called Cur. Dom. Mar. Niger, Geog. Asiae Com. 5. Susiana Provincia se∣quitur, quam quidam in partem Persidis

ponunt, nomen à Susa Urbe clariss. deducens; nunc à Barbaris patriâ linguâ Chus dici∣tur. And no marvel it should take its name from him, who with his posterity seated himself here very early after the Floud, even before the building of Babel. For if Nimrod the son of Chus, when he went with his rebellious Associates into the land of Shinar to build that Tower, journeyed from the East, as Moses saith they did, Gen. 11. 2. then in all probability the place from whence they set out was Susiana, which lies next East to Babylonia. Indeed Chus had a numerous posterity, whence it was that his name spred so far. Some of them passed into Arabia over the River Tigris, which I should chuse for a more probable Bounder of the Eastern and Western Aethiopians mentioned in Homer, then the Arabian Sea, or Mare Rubrum; though I know also that many Secular Wri∣ters have comprehended the Persian Gulf under that name. Of the Western or Arabian Aethiopians many Commentators have written learnedly: and if they had turned their pens to enquire after these in the East also, I doubt not but they might have found out a better interpretation of many places of Scripture then ordinarily

hath been given. As (Ex. gr.) where Chus and Elam are joyned together, Esay 11. 11. Paras, Chus, and Phut, Ezek. 38. 5. as for∣merly Paras, Phut, and Lud, Ezek. 27. 10. For as Paras and Elam are well known to be Eastern Nations, (to whom the Cossaei were near neighbours;) so we should not alwaies need to goe into Africk and Asia minor for Phut and Lud, but find them nearer at hand, if we did well consider that place in Judith, 2. 23. And whether any help may hence be had for the better under∣standing of that obscure Prophecy, Esay 18. 1. I leave to better judgments to enquire. But surely it was not without cause that in that parallel Prophecy, Zeph. 3. 10. the Chaldee Paraphrast renders Trans flumina 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Aethiopiae, by E Regionibus ultra flumina 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Indiae: whether thereby he meant the less noted India that we have by the way touched upon, or that other more famous and better known Region removed farther towards the East: for even there also were Cushites or Aethiopians. The Israelites in Nisebor by the River Gozan are said in bellum proficisci ad Regi∣onem Cusch per viam deserti, Benj. in Itin. And Herodotus clearly distinguishing the Eastern Aethiopians from the Western, joins

them with the Indians, Polymn. sive l. 7. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Aethiopibus quidem qui sunt ultra Aegyptum & Arabibus prae∣erat Arsames: qui verò ab ortu Solis erant Aethiopes (bifariàm enim militabant) or∣dinati erant cum Indis. And not onely long after did Philostratus find Aethiopians about the River Indus, but Homer long be∣fore had set them as far East as the rising of the Sun. And whether the River Gihon might not anciently compass even these also, I cannot certainly affirm: but the confounding of this River not onely with Indus but with Ganges also (by so many good Writers) might seem to intimate, as if they were believed anciently to have communicated in their Streams. And their opinion falls not far short of this, who have found the Fountain of Ganges in the Moun∣tains of Media; as Artemidorus, that anci∣ent and famous Geographer, is said to have done: and that of the fore-cited Benjamin, if we were certain it were true, might render it probable, who finds a Stream of Tigris emptying it self into the Sea over against the Island Nikrokis, which Constantine

L' Empereur supposes to be Zeilan, former∣ly called Nanigeris; an Island once famed with an opinion of Paradise, a River where∣of Ganges is still held to be, by the native Indians, who yearly testifie that credulity by many superstitious Ceremonies. But the most remarkable Testimony is, the Draught of this River in that famous Ta∣bula Itineraria antiqua lately set out by Peutinger, wherein the Head of it being set much about the place where we have found it, it is drawn quite through the East, and falls into the Oriental Ocean, having taken in by the way the River Ganges. If any ask how it should come to pass then, that the Course of it now should be intercepted, (if indeed it be wholly intercepted;) I answer, they will cease to wonder, if they consider not onely what Strabo hath related of a great Earthquake, whereby a great change hap∣pened among the Rivers in those parts, Geog. l. 1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Et Duris re∣fert Rhagades, quae in Media sunt, nomen indè habere, quòd Terrae-motibus rupta fu∣erit terra apud Caspias portas, complurésque

eversae Urbes & Pagi, ac Fluviorum variae inciderint mutationes: but remember also what formerly hath been noted of Cyrus cutting the Stream of Gyndes into so many Chanels as might well suffice to exhaust the greatest River. But I do not take up∣on me to maintain this, nor is there any need that I should, it being not much ma∣terial to our purpose; seeing that Course of this River which we have formerly asser∣ted from so good authority, is abundantly sufficient both to clear and justify the Geo∣graphy of Moses.