opolis on the Red Sea, but the city of Orus in Egypt. So that the place which is really alluded to by them, and that which I treat of, are the same; though they have changed the name, and by that means been the authors of much confusion. Just above the town of Geeza is a little island called Aurea; which certainly is not a name of Roman original, though at first sight there may be some appearance of it. It is bounded by a canal called Calig Al Cusherah; which is undoubtedly a name of antient date, and witnesses the true etymology of the other. The Romans, finding the place called Aur and Aurah, imitated the Greeks in adapting it to their own language; and called this island and the adjacent country Aurea. The later Arabians, who succeeded in these parts, have been misled by this; and given the island the name of 9 Guzarat or Gieziret Edahab, "the golden island." But the situation of this place, and the name of the canal, Al Cusharah 4o (both near the point where stood the antient Aur) manifestly prove that they have been esteemed appendages to that antient city, and have received their names from it. Indeed, the whole country where the Cuseans principally resided was called Aurah, by the Greeks changed to Aëria: of which there are many tokens. The py 40 39 Norden's Travels. vol. 2. 40 Pocock's large map of Egypt. ramids near Faiume are called the pyramids of 4 Havara; which is the same word, though a little diversified. Such variations must happen in a long course of years. The modern Greeks, who pronounce autos, apros, and aurum, avarum, would call Aurah, Avara at this day. These are wonderful memorials of former times; and certainly relate to the histories which I have been treating of; to occurrences, that happened in the most early ages: such as no length of time has been able to cancel. There are many places to be met with, which terminate in Ur and Our; all manifestly denomi→ nated from the same element that the Carour of the Cuseans was derived from; as may be proved from their history and situation: whence it is plain that I am not wrong in the etymology of that place. The city that was the boundary of Phrygia and Caria had a name of the like purport; which was given to it on account of its situation. For it was built in a most inflammable and sulphureous soil, and in the neighbourhood of hot fountains; so that every object betokened fire. It was called Carour and Caroura; and the country all around termed Κεκαυμένη or burnt. 4* Καρουρα δε όριον εσι της Φρυγίας και της Καρίας κώμη δ' εσιν αυτη πανδοχεια έχεσα, και ζετων υδατων εκβολας-Σχεδόν δε τοι εκσείςος εςι και πασα 41 Vansleb's State of Egypt. Μαιανδρον χωρα, και υπονομος πύρι τε και ύδατι μέχρι της μεσογαίας. Και δη και τα περι τον Τυφώνα παθη ενταυθα μυθεύεσι, και τες Αριμες, και την Κατακε καυμένην ταύτην είναι φασιν. There was likewise a temple of the same name in the vicinity of the abovementioned city; and denominated from the same circumstances. 43 Μεταξύ δε της Λαοδίκειας και των Καρούρων ἱερον, εσί Μηνος, Καρου (Καρουρ) καλέμενον, τιμωμενον αξιολογως. It was called the temple of Menes; and was probably built by some of Egyptian race, that settled here: who came either from Colchis or Cappadocia, where were the two most antient colonies from that country. The temple was called Carour: and it was probably erected in honor of the first king of Egypt, who was called by that name, and in memory of the city that we have been treating of. There was another city of lower Egypt towards the sea, that was likewise called Carour; and is mentioned in the Notitia Ecclesiastica: by some it was termed Achoris. Such are the evidences of the Cuseans having resided in Egypt; who left behind them traces, that are not to this day erased. In the antient histories and monuments they occur very frequently; so that Scaliger might well say, 44 Multa Arabica in veteribus monumentis Egyptiacis observavimus ; quæ nobis ignota quærant studiosi. 43 Strabo, vol. 2. pag. 867. 869. 44 Animady, in Euseb. Chron. SOME OBJECTIONS ANSWERED; AND OTHER PROOFS PRODUCED: WHEREIN IS FARTHER SHEWN, THAT THE ARABIAN SHEPHERDS WERE DISTINCT FROM THE ISRAELITES, AND PRIOR TO THEM. No history has been esteemed more difficult to settle than that of the Arabian Pastors: which difficulty has arisen from not considering that they were a twofold race, and essentially different in almost every circumstance. When the Arabians came into Egypt, they are said to have been 240000 in number: the Israelites were but seventy persons. The former took possession by force: the latter were invited; and had all they possessed granted to them. The one held the people in slavery the others were theirselves inslaved. The Arabians were driven out of the land: the Israelites were not suffered to depart. Notwithstanding this, Josephus among the antients, and 45 Witsius, Perizonius and others among the moderns, think that this history relates to the Israelites only. Manetho, who is the first that speaks of these Shepherds, and from whom Africanus, Eusebius, and Syncellus have chiefly borrowed what they produce, plainly distinguishes between them. Josephus, and those of his opinion, have no other way to set this evidence aside, but by supposing that Manetho had an utter aversion to the Jews, and would not mention any thing in their favour: a supposition so ill grounded, that it is wonderful how persons of any reflection could advance it. For what is it that Manetho can be supposed to have suppressed out of prejudice? If we were to allow that the Israelites were the Shepherds who got the sovereignty in Egypt; what would be their history? They were in the land of Canaan during a famine, and in very great distress: but were invited into Egypt, where their wants were supplied and they were permitted to settle in the very best of the country, and had part of it assigned them for a possession. As they increased in number, they forgot their obligations: and, rising in arms against their benefactors, subdued them by force; and for a great while ruled tyrannically over them; burn 1 45 Hermanni Witsii Egyptiaca. lib. 3. cap. 3. He imagines that the first Shepherds were Abraham and his retinue; and the sons of Israel the second. |