Arabs call it 'deebh' or 'khathal.' The English word jackal comes no doubt from this latter, and not because he is the lion's provider, as is the vulgar opinion in England. So little is he the provider for the lion, that if that animal comes upon him whilst he is devouring his prey, he flies immediately. "In the night', indeed, when all the beasts of the forest do move, these as well as others are prowling after their sustenance; and when the sun ariseth, and the lion getteth himself away to his den, both the black cat and the jackal have been often found gnawing such carcases as the lion is supposed to have fed upon the night before. This, and the promiscuous noise which I have heard the jackal make with the lion, are the only circumstances which I am acquainted with in favour of this opinion." M. Camus admits, that there are some reasons for supposing the jackal to be the same with the thos; but yet he hesitates to adopt the opinion. 285. Erpovboi Karayaw. Ostriches. In the Greek, land strouthi.' This bird is called στρουθὺς μεγάλη, χαμαιπετής, ̓Αραβικός, Λιβυκός, σтρоvokáμnλos, for the purpose of distinguishing it from the sparrow, which is called simply arpovtóc. The Latins also sometimes called it 'passer marinus,' because it was foreign to them, and came from countries beyond the sea. 286. Υς ἄγριος ἐν Λιβύῃ οὐκ ἔστι. The wild boar does not exist in Libya. Aristotle is of the same opinion, which does not appear to M. Camus to be correct'. Dr. Shaw goes much further than the latter writer; and affirms that "they are found in great numbers, that they are the chief prey and food of the lion, and have been sometimes known to defend themselves with so much bravery, that the victory has inclined to neither side: the carcases of them both having been found lying one by the other, torn and mangled to pieces." This testimony of Dr. Shaw is confirmed by Mr. Bruce. We are however less entitled to refuse credence to Herodotus, who asserts that Africa produces no such animal, as he is supported by Aristotle. For I do not think we ought to conclude with M. Camus, that this philosopher borrowed his opinion from our historian, as if Africa were totally unknown to the Greeks. We must presume that since the time of Herodotus and Aristotle, wild boars have been carried thither. [Clapperton amused himself with hunting wild boars during his residence in Socatu'.] 287. Ainodes. Dipodes. Which means, ' two-footed.' There is every probability that this species of rat is the jerboa of Shaw; it is not that the animal possesses only two feet, but that its fore-legs are extremely short, and it usually stands upon its hinder ones. 6 Bruce has also given a description of it in his Travels to the Sources of the Nile together with a plate which represents it to the life, and shows us at a glance how it came by the name of Dipode or Biped. This traveller remarks that it is the rat, mentioned by Isaiah, (lxvi. 17.) the eating of whose flesh was as strictly interdicted as the eating of pork. He observes that the Hebrew version terms it a rat, but that the Arabian version calls it jerboa. This is greatly in favour of his opinion; but I shall leave the point to be discussed by commentators on the sacred writings. 288. Bovvoi. Hills. The Greek word signifies hills.' Was this animal so named because it delighted in elevated situations? Bochart' changes this word to Βουνῖνοι, which he derives from Βουνιν, which is a species of turnip, called in the Punic language 'zigar;' from 'zigar' has been made 'zegeri,' in the plural 'zegeries.' And he adds, that this name has no doubt been given to the animal because it feeds on that plant. This conjecture appeared to me rather a happy one. M. Beckmann, in his notes on a Treatise attributed to Aristotle, thinks, with M. Pallas, that it is the Cape rat. This rat, says M. Beckmann, digs itself a hole under ground, and, in so doing, throws up the earth in the form of a hill. Hence the name Bovvoì, which Bochart is wrong in changing to Βουνῖνοι. 9 CXCV. 289. Aíμvnv. A lake. Achilles Tatius describes, with his usual affectation, the method of drawing the gold from this lake. 290. Ἐν Ζακύνθῳ ἐκ λίμνης πίσσαν ἀναφερομένην αὐτὸς ἐγὼ ὥρεον. I myself saw pitch borne to the surface in a lake in Zacynthus. The reader may consult Spon, who observes', that there is in this island a fountain of pitch, which issues from the bowels of the earth with a beautiful clear water, and that the pitch from its weight remains at the bottom. This renders credible the assertion of Antigonus' after Eudoxus, that there are fish in this lake. 3 291. Tiс Пiερikйs. Of Pieria. This pitch was very highly esteemed. Didymus asserts that the ancients considered as the best that which came from Mount Ida, and next to it that which was obtained from Pieria, a country of Macedonia. Pliny says also," Asia* picem Idæam maximè probat, Græcia Piericam." CXCVI. 292. Ἐς τοὺς ἐπεὰν ἀπίκωνται καὶ ἐξέλωνται τὰ φορτία. To whom when they have come and produced their wares. This method of trading is still practised in the same country. "However it must be mentioned to the honour of the western Moors, that they still con 6 Bruce's Trav. vol. VII. p. 225. 7 Geogr. Sacr. II. iii. col. 714. lin. 12. 8 De Mirabil. Auscult. XXVII. p. 62. 9 Achill. Tat. Clitoph. et Leucippes Amor. II. p. 97. 1 Travels, vol. I. p. 89. 5 tinue to carry on a trade with some barbarous nations, bordering upon the river Nigar, without seeing the persons they trade with, or without having once broke through that original charter of commerce, which from time immemorial has been settled between them. The method is this: At a certain time of the year (in winter, if I am not mistaken,) they make this journey in a numerous caravan, carrying along with them coral and glass beads, bracelets of horn, knives, scissars, and such like trinkets. When they arrive at the place appointed, which is on such a day of the moon, they find in the evening several different heaps of gold dust, lying at a small distance from each other, against which the Moors place so many of their trinkets as they judge will be taken in exchange for them. If the Nigritians, the next morning, approve of the bargain, they take up the trinkets, and leave the gold dust, or else make some deductions from the latter, &c. And in this manner transact their exchange without seeing each other, or without the least instance of dishonesty or perfidiousness on either side." Cada Mosto" relates also, that the inhabitants of the kingdom of Melli exchange in a similar manner salt for gold. CXCVIII. 293. 'Emì тpinкóσia. About three hundred for one. "Even some grains of the Murwaany wheat, which I brought with me to Oxford, and sowed in the physic garden, threw out each of them fifty (stalks). But Muzeratty, one of the late Kaleefas or viceroys of the province of Tlemsan, brought once with him to Algiers a root that yielded four-score; telling us that. . . . . the Emir Hadge, or prince of the western pilgrims, sent once to the Bashaw of Cairo one that yielded six-score . . . . . It likewise happens, that some of these stalks will likewise bear two ears; whilst each of these ears will as often shoot out into a number of lesser ones. ... ..... CXCIX. 294. 'Opya. The harvest. The Greek term indicates the time when the fruits approach maturity. See the learned note of Ruhnken upon this word in the Lexicon of Timæus. CC. 295. 'Avip xaλkεuç. An artificer in copper. This proves that the art of constructing mines to effect the capture of fortified places is very ancient, and that that of countermining is no less so. This historical fact is valuable in the history of the art of attacking and defending places. Æneas has done well to quote it. M. Wesseling in his notes cites the passage from that author with his corrections; to which I refer the reader. CCIII. 296. Alòs Avкaiov. Lycæan Jupiter. Lycaon' erected a temple to Jupiter in Parrhasia, and in honour of him instituted 2 cer Hist. des Voy. V. ii. tom. II. p. 294. 7 Shaw's Travels, vol. I. p. 251. 8 Lexicon Voc. Platon. p. 140. • Æneas Poliorcet. xxxvii. p. 1711. 1 Schol. Eurip. in Orest. 1646. 2 Pausan. VIII. ii. p. 600. The Latins called these games 'Lupercalia.’ tain games, which were called Lycæan, Auraia. No one was permitted to enter this temple. Those who infringed this prohibition were stoned. The Lycæan Jupiter being adored so near Cyrene, leads us to suppose that there must have been some Arcadians in that colony; and indeed we learn from Herodotus, (clix.) that there came thither Greeks from various countries. But I cannot venture to say, whether in giving to this hill the name of Jupiter, they erected a temple or an altar to that god, or observed the same customs which were practised in Arcadia. But in Anacreon The ancient grammarians remark that the word oxon is said of the borders of a river, and oxos of a mountain. (Ode xx. 2) I find Ἡ Ταντάλου ποτ' ἔστη Λίθος Φρυγῶν ἐν ὄχθαις. 'The daughter of Tantalus (Niobe) was formerly changed into a stone on the Phrygian mountains.' 297. Φόβος ἐνέπεσε. Terror seized them. The Greeks, by the term 'panic,' expressed such fear as had no assignable cause; and they gave to it this name, because', in the war of the Titans, Pan armed the allies with sea shells, the sound of which so frightened the Titans, that they took to flight. Plutarch relates, that the Fauns and Satyrs who inhabited the neighbourhood of Chemmis were the first who gave notice of the death of Osiris, which spread terror over the country. CCIV. 298. Οὗτος ὁ Περσέων στρατὸς ἑκαστάτω ἐς Εὐεσπερίδας ἦλθε. This army of Persians penetrated no further than the Hesperides. Thus the Cyreneans, and the Libyans to the east of Cyrenaica, were not subjugated by the Persians. It was on the part of the latter an invasion and not an established possession. In fact, the Persians kept a garrison at Marea, in order to secure Egypt against the incursions of the Libyans. Had Libya, together with Cyrenaica, been in the power of the Persians, their military station would most probably have been in the latter country. It is true that the Cyreneans and the Libyans sent' presents to Cambyses and to Darius, or rather, perhaps, a tribute; but this step was the effect of fear, and was productive of no consequences. CCV. 299. Τῆς Βάττεω. Wife of Battus. Valla had translated 'Pheretima Batti filiæ;' a gross error, which has escaped Gronovius. This Pheretima was the wife of Battus (clxii). The late President Bouhier was the first who corrected this error of the translators. 3 Plutarch. Quæst. Græc. p. 300, s. 7 Id. III. xiii. 8 Id. III. xci. 9 Rech. et Diss. sur Hérod. XII. p. 146. TERPSICHORE. BOOK V. Ι. 1. Περινθίους Ελλησποντίων. The Perinthians of the Hellespont. Perinthus, otherwise called Heraclea, is on the borders of the Propontis. 2. 'Emaiάvičov. They sang the Pæon. The Pæon, or Pæan, was a hymn, of which there were two kinds. The first was sung before battle, in honour of Mars; the second after a victory, in honour of Apollo. This hymn began with the words 'Io Paan.' The allusion made to the Pæonians in the name of this hymn, is obvious. 2 ΙΙΙ. 3. Θρηίκων δὲ ἔθνος μέγιστόν ἐστι. The Thracians form the most numerous nation. Thucydides reckons it next to the Scythians, and Pausanias next to the Celts 3. 5 4. IIǹv Tpavoūv. Except the Trausi Hesychius* considers them to be a Scythian nation; and yet it should seem, by the particulars which he relates, that it is of the Trausi of our historian that he meant to speak. Stephanus of Byzantium says that they are the same people as the Agathyrsi; but in this he is widely mistaken. The Agathyrsi were very remote from them. Herodotus, who has spoken very distinctly of the latter, would not have failed to make the remark, had the opinion any foundation in truth. IV. 5. Τὸν μὲν γενόμενον ὀλοφύρονται. They lament over a child that is born. We find the same thing in the following fragment of the Cresphontes of Euripides, which has been preserved in whole or in part by Eschines the pupil of Socrates', Strabo, Plutarch, Stobæus', and Clement of Alexandria2. Εδει γὰρ ἡμᾶς σύλλογον ποιουμένους 1 Scholiast. MSS. apud Barnesium ad Homer. Iliad. XXII. 391; Schol. Thucyd. I. I. et IV. xlii. 2 Thucyd. II. xcvii. Pausan. I. ix. p. 22. Hesych. voc. Tpavoóc. 5 Steph. Byzant. voc. Tpavool. 6 Eurip. Fragm. vol. III. p. 557, ex edit. Musgrav. 7 In Axiocho, x. p. 142. 8 Geogr. XI. p. 790. 9 De Audiendis Poetis, p. 36, F. 1 Serm. CXIX. p. 603. 2 Stromat. III. p. 517. |