that a migration of families might have happened antecedently to this journeying from the east. The passage, when truly translated, does not by any means refer to the whole of mankind. According to the original, it is said indeterminately, that in the journeying of people from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar. The purport, therefore, of the whole passage amounts only to this, that, before there was any alteration in the language of mankind, a body of people came from the east to the place above specified. This is all that is said: so that I am far from being satisfied that the whole of mankind was engaged in this expedition from the east. The Scripture does not seem to say so: nor can there be any reason assigned why they should travel so far merely to be dissipated afterwards. We have reason to think, that soon after the descent from the Ark, the Patriarch found himself in a fine and fruitful country; for so it is described by 62 Strabo and others; and there is nothing that we can suppose to have been done at Shinar, but might have been effected in the

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2 L. 11. p. 800. Ararat, regio in Armeniâ campestris est; per quam Araxes fluit; incredibilis ubertatis. Hieron. in Esaiam. c. 37. See Tavernier's Travels, p. 14, 15. and Tournefort. letter 7th.

spot where he first resided; I mean in respect to migration. The region about Ararat may be esteemed as nearly a central part of the earth; and it is certainly as well calculated as any other for the removal of colonies upon the increase of mankind. The Ethnic writers, in their accounts of the wanderings of Isis and Jonah, seem to allude to the journeying of mankind; and they speak of the country about Caucasus as the place from whence those travels began. The same is to be observed in the original history of the Minyæ, which is called the retreat of the Argonautæ: for they retire from the region about Caucasus to the remotest parts of the earth: and it is well known, that Ararat in Armenia is a part of that vast chain of mountains called Caucasus and Taurus. Upon these mountains, and in the adjacent country, were preserved more authentic accounts of the Ark, than almost in any other part of the world. Moses Chorenensis takes notice of the many memorials relating to antient times, which were preserved by the people of Armenia. They were commemorated in their poems, songs, and sacred hymns. 63 Cæterum veteres Armenii in carminibus suis, cantilenis ad cymbala, ac tripudiis, longè copiosiorem de his rebus

(3 L. 1. c. 5. p. 19.

mentionem agitant. The antient Armenians in their poems and hymns, which are accompanied with cymbals and dances, afford a far more copious account of these events than any other nation. The place where mankind first resided, was undoubtedly the region of the Minya, at the bottom of Mount Baris, or Luban, which was the Ararat of Moses. Here I imagine, that the Patriarch resided; and 64 Berosus mentions, that in this place he gave instructions to his children, and vanished from the sight of men. But the sacred writings are upon this head silent: they only mention his planting the vine, and seemingly taking up his abode for a long time upon the spot. Indeed, they do not afford us any reason to infer that he ever departed from it. The very plantation of the vine seems to imply a purpose of residence. Not a word is said of the Patriarch's ever quitting the place; nor of any of his sons departing from it, till the general migration. Many of the fathers were of opinion, that they did not for some ages quit this region. According to Epiphanius, they remained in the vicinity of Ararat for five generations, during the space of six hundred and fifty-nine years. 65 Μετα δε τον

κατακλυσμον, επίφασης της λαρνακος τε Νώε εν τοις ορεσι τοις Αραράτ, ανα μέσον Αρμενιων και Καρδύεων, εν τῳ Λε βαρ όρει καλεμένων, εκείσε πρωτόν οικησις γίνεται μετα τον κατακλυσμον των ανθρώπων κακει φυτεύει αμπελωνα Να Γίνονται δε τοις

προφητης,, οικισης τε γίνεται τ8 τοπ8. αυτά παισι παιδες, και παιδων παιδες, έως πέμπτης γενεάς, ετών εξακοσίων πεντήκοντα εννεα. After the Ark upon the decrease of the waters had rested upon: the mountains of Ararat, upon that particular eminence called Lubar, which bounds the countries of the Armenians and the Cardueans; the region where it settled became the first place occupied by' mankind. Here the Patriarch Noah took up his residence, and planted the vine. In this place he save a large progeny descend from him, children after children-to the " fifth generation, for the space of sir hundred and fifty-nine years.

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During the residence of mankind in these parts, we may imagine, that there was a season of great happiness. They for a long time lived under the mild rule of the great Patriarch, before laws were enacted or penalties known. When they multiplied, and were become very numerous,

The same is mentioned by this writer in another place. Πέμπτη γενια μετα τον κατακλυσμον, πληθυνόντων αρτι των ανθρωπων. από το Λεβας της Αρμενίας, τοτ' εσιν Αραρατ της χώρας, γίνονται εν πεδίω Σενααρ. 1. 1. p. 6.

..

it pleased God to allot to the various families different regions, to which they were to retire: and they accordingly, in the days of Peleg, did remove, and betake themselves to their different departments. But the sons of Chus would not obey. They went off under the conduct of the arch-rebel Nimrod; and seem to have been for a long time in a roving state; but at last they arrived at the plains of Shinar. These they found occupied by Assur and his sons: for he had been placed there by divine appointment. But they ejected him, and seized upon his dominions; which they immediately fortified with cities, and laid the foundation of a great monarchy. Their leader is often mentioned by the Gentile writers, who call him Belus. He was a person of great impiety; who finding that the earth had been divided among the sons of men by a divine decree, thought proper to counteract the ordinance of God, and to make a different distribution. This is often alluded to in the Ethnic writings; and Abydenus particularly mentions, that 67 Belus appointed to the people their place of habitation. Dionysius refers to this Belus and his associates, when he is speaking of the deities, who were the ance tors of the Indo-Cuthites.

(7 Xugar ixasw atoparra. Euseb. Præp. Evang. 1. 9. p. 457.

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