CHAPTER VI.

(609--606 B. C.)

KING ITHOBALUS THE FIRST.

[_i. e._ ETH-BAAL.]

THE FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA BY THE TYRIANS, SCIENTIFICALLY INVESTIGATED AND ESTABLISHED, &c.

SECTION I.

THE CAUSE OF THE EGYPTO-TYRIAN EXPEDITION--HERODOTUS REVIEWED--THE COURSE OF THE "EAST-WIND," &c.

The subject now to be considered is of peculiar interest in reference to the history of early Science; and more so from the fact, that doubts have been entertained by some Historians as to whether this celebrated Voyage was accomplished, or even attempted. These doubts have arisen from the silence of some of the early Roman writers upon the subject, and subsequent authors have, thereupon rejected the supposed expedition. It will be our object in this Chapter, to firmly establish that the Voyage did take place, and to set the question at rest. This will be done not only on the authority of the Greek historian, Herodotus, but upon the higher authority of Scripture,--from the words of the Prophets JEREMIAH and EZEKIEL,--which will now be brought forward (as we humbly submit) for the first time to bear upon the question.

The establishing of this proposition in the affirmative, and beyond further dispute, has a material effect towards supporting the Theory of this entire work, so far as relates to the Aborigines of Mexican America being of Tyrian descent;--therefore, the interesting subject calls for minute investigation in order to sustain the proposition. It must also be of interest to the general reader, merely as an elucidation of early Science, and especially the analysis of the celebrated "East-Wind," so often mentioned in the Bible.

The suggestion by some writers that the circumnavigation of Africa took place in the time of Hiram and Solomon [1000 B. C.] cannot be supported by any proofs, or even probabilities, but, on the contrary, is refuted from two causes; viz., 1st, From the motive why the Egyptian, Pharaoh-Necho, undertook, or rather resolved upon the expedition,--which establishes it to have been the first voyage; and 2dly, The _natural incident_ or fact, observed during the voyage (of this hereafter), and which appeared so surprising not only to the Tyrians and Egyptians, but even to Herodotus himself,--_proves_ that the expedition did not take place before the time of Ithobalus, for the same "incident" would have been noticed whenever the first voyage was made, as it will be whenever the last voyage shall be accomplished around the Continent of Africa.

This Expedition was at the _expense_ of the Egyptian King, Pharaoh-Necho, who slew in battle Josiah, King of Judah, as recorded in Scripture. [2 Kings xx. 3.] The Monarch of the Nile ascended the throne 616 B. C.

The ships of the Expedition were built by the Tyrians;--piloted, manned, and equipped by them, and consequently the voyage belongs to their history conjointly with that of Egypt. Let us review the circumstance which led to the Expedition, and the means of defraying the expense:--the latter will be found to emanate from the coffers of Judæa, and not from those of Egypt. Pharaoh-Necho possessed a mind of no ordinary character, not only in regard to government, but for scientific pursuits. Six years after his ascension to the throne he declared war against the King of Babylon, and marched an army towards the Euphrates. It was at this time that Josiah "the pious," King of Judah, followed the Monarch of Egypt, for the purpose of making warfare upon him and his army, and thus prevent his approach upon the Babylonians. Pharaoh used every entreaty to Josiah to entice him to return to his own nation, as he had no wish to make battle with Judæa, but rather desired the amity of that country. Josiah, however, still followed on the rear of the Egyptian army,--when Pharaoh suddenly turned upon the Judæan force, before the approach of the army of Babylon. The two enemies met in the plain of Megiddo. Josiah was mortally wounded, carried from the field in his chariot, and shortly after died at Jerusalem. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him, but reigned only three months, when he was dethroned by the indignant Pharaoh, and Josiah's eldest son crowned by orders of the Egyptian, and Judæa placed under an annual tribute "of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold." [_i. e._ 41,425_l._] This event occurred 610 B. C.; and returning victorious to Egypt, Pharaoh probably contemplated how he might best employ the Judæan tribute, and make it available in the paths of peace. From relative circumstances we are led to reason that such were his thoughts,--for we now find that he resolved to attempt the joining of the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, or with the River Nile, by means of a Ship-Canal between either of the two waters. Egypt would then receive merchandise direct from India, passing through the Straits of Babelmandeb, and so through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez; and by means of the proposed Canal to some harbour, or commercial emporium to be erected on the banks of the Nile, at the fork of the Delta, or at one of the mouths of the river on the Mediterranean.

This policy of a commercial connexion between the Nile and Suez, and so to India, is again revived at the present day, after a lapse of nearly 2500 years! At this time, 610 B. C., Egypt had no commerce of her own, and had always despised the merchant's pursuit. She had no navy or vessels of her own,--except her river boats,--yet she was willing to receive from other nations the rich commodities derivable from their commercial energy, and in _exchange_ for her corn and linen cloths; consequently the Egyptians were _merchants_ at the very time they affected to despise the means whereby merchandise was acquired. To the fact of the Egyptians really despising and rejecting Navigation, may be attributed the _land_ wonders of the Nile,--the Pyramids and Temples:--for not being engaged upon the Ocean, or the Mediterranean in any manner (and to leave the river Nile for other waters was esteemed a sacrilege), they of a necessity could turn their attention only to the grandeur of the Earth,--naturally or artificially,--_i. e._ to Agriculture, or the Arts,--and they were content to leave the domain of Neptune to those who were willing to become the bold subjects of his treacherous empire!

In the attempt to form a Canal from the Red Sea the King of Egypt completely failed, probably owing to the drifting sands; and it was this defeat in one path of Science, that led him instantly to pursue another, in which he would not have the same difficulties of Nature to contend with; and in this resolve he was actuated by the safety of his reputation,--for the new idea had precisely the same object in view, as that in which he had so signally failed;--viz., to bring the riches of India and the Nile together by means of water communication. The only way whereby this could be accomplished was by a circumnavigation of the Continent of Africa. There seems to be truth upon the entire subject of this Voyage, from the fact, as already expressed, that the second scientific attempt, had for its object the same as the first.

This is a proof that the Voyage was not attempted or accomplished in the time of Solomon and Hiram;--for if it had been, it would no longer have been a question, but a repetition of a "foregone conclusion."

The primitive undertaking of Pharaoh did not require Pilots or mariners,--the expedition now to be attempted not only demanded both, but also Galleys and "all the appliances and means" of Navigation,--these the Egyptians, like the Israelites, did not possess, nor had they any practical Knowledge of the Science.

There was but one Nation in the world to which Pharaoh could apply, for carrying into effect this bold and original undertaking,--that Nation was Tyrus:--and with the Monarch of that country the Sovereign of Egypt was on terms of amity.

Herodotus states that the Voyage did take place,--that the Phœnicians (_i. e._ Tyrians) were the mariners, and of course the Pilots,--that they were three years [609 to 606 B. C.] in accomplishing this then extraordinary expedition. The glory of this victory over the elements was claimed (and justly) by the Tyrians,--for without them it could not have been even attempted: and upon this occasion it was natural that both the King of Tyrus and his subjects, would hail the opportunity for such an expedition with every feeling of national enthusiasm,--and to that may be attributed its consequent success.

The proofs of the successful termination of the Voyage will now be established. The negatives will be first reviewed. These rest entirely upon the _silence_ of several authors upon the subject during the time of the early Cæsars: and because they were silent, subsequent writers have taken upon themselves the responsibility of contradicting it entirely: but that very silence of the Roman writers (who desired only to advance themselves) should be received as a direct acquiescence, since they did not _contradict_ it,--and they would have done so if the negative truth had been on their side,--for they must have read, or heard, the original statement of the occurrence as made by the Greek Historian, written in his description of his visit to Egypt nearly five centuries before:--by being the first Historian of the Egyptian Nation, Herodotus, or his work, could not have been unknown to the Romans.

Upon the absolute refutation of a negative, and proving the reverse, an affirmative, as a necessity, is directly established. Here, then, follows one upon that ground of reasoning: viz.--

Some writers have affirmed that the Fleet could not have been built and manned by the Naval Architects and Pilots of Tyrus, _because_ their city was on the coast of the Mediterranean, and consequently could not reach the Red Sea, except all the Galleys were transported _over land_,--_i. e._ across the Isthmus of Suez to the place of departure, and this, say they, would be impossible. Such annotations upon the solemnity of History, only shew those authors' ignorance of the First Book of record and Religion,--for in the Bible it is distinctly written, both in the first Book of Kings (ix. 26, 27), and 2 Chronicles xiii. 17, 18, that Hiram the Great built a Navy for the King of Israel, _at Ezion-Geber_, near Eloth, in Edom, "_on the shore of the Red Sea_."

Here, then, is the fact of a fleet having been built by the Tyrians, for a foreign king, on the shores of the Red Sea, and for a voyage to India. Now this Navy was built for Solomon three hundred and eighty-five years before the time of Pharaoh-Necho, the period now under contemplation. Why should not the Tyrians build another Navy upon the borders of the Red Sea, at a later period, for another nation,--and especially when for an expedition calling forth every energy of the renowned Navigators? We apprehend that this affirmative, founded upon a refuted negative, will not now be further questioned even by the most sceptical reader; and besides, it is more than probable, that the Tyrians from the time of Solomon to Pharaoh, had a fleet, or vessels on the Red Sea, and consequently could quickly prepare for any expedition.

The affirmatives will now be established,--we shall then endeavour to describe the voyage, the discoveries, and safe return; and then prove that the entire document has the Seal of Holy-Writ, stamped by the hands of two contemporaneous Prophets of Jerusalem--JEREMIAH and EZEKIEL.

Herodotus says, that the Voyage was successfully accomplished,--that the fleet, pilots, and mariners, were Tyrian.

Let us review the knowledge of this Grecian writer upon the subject. The expedition is recorded to have taken place 607--604 B. C. This is evidently an error, and should be 609 to 606,--for Pharaoh instantly followed his first attempt by the second,--and the first was in 610 B. C. This last arrangement is also supported by the words of JEREMIAH. The Greek Historian visited Egypt, and wrote his History about 484 B. C., deriving his knowledge from personal observation, and from the Priests of Memphis. The date, therefore, of his writing, is only a hundred and twenty-two years after the occurrence of the Voyage, and consequently not at so late a period, that the antecedent truth should have been lost. Again. He was writing of the Egyptians, to be read to, and by the Athenians, who were always proud of every glory claimed by the inhabitants of the Nile, because much of Grecian science and knowledge had been derived from Egypt,--consequently Herodotus would have given all the fame to the Egyptians concerning the enterprise, if he could have done so with honesty; therefore, from the above reasoning, the truth of his record is manifest,--for to another nation, to the Tyrians, is he compelled to give the honour of accomplishing the greatest Naval Expedition mentioned in classic History.

We will now produce a proof (the most remarkable to be true) of the accuracy of Herodotus as a writer, and which will establish his authority to be believed, concerning the subject now under consideration. In his second Book of History--the Euterpe--he gives the reigns of the Egyptian Kings down to the Conquest, by Cambyses the Persian. In the course of his writing, we find a minute description of the three classes or manners of embalming the Egyptian mummies.

In the highest class of embalming, he states, "_In the first place, with a crooked piece of iron they pull out the brain by the_ [way of the] _nostrils_!" [Book ii., sections 86--89.]

So extraordinary a statement might well originally have brought suspicion upon his entire History; but, after a period of nearly 2500 years, his statement _is proved to be absolutely correct_!--for many Mummies of Egypt examined by Mr. Pettigrew (and others) have been found to have _no fracture_ or _incision_ in the skull: yet upon an after-dissection of the skull by the same eminent surgeon, it has been found that the _brain had been extracted_: thus proving to demonstration, that it could only have been removed in the manner described by Herodotus! When, therefore, the pages of an Historian are established by scrutinizing Time itself, to have been traced by the pen of Truth, and in such minutiæ,--he may well be believed when recording so important an event as the first circumnavigation of the African Continent.

We may here observe (although in digression), that from the accuracy of the description of Embalming by Herodotus, and its late and absolute proof, not a doubt can now be entertained as to the truth of the unheard-of crime practised by the Egyptian Embalmers upon the female bodies; and which led, he writes, to a custom, or law, that the wives of the nobility, and the beautiful or celebrated women, should not be even prepared for embalming until the third or fourth day after decease. Here, then, is the secret why the Mummy bodies of the men of the first class are in better preservation than the bodies of the same class of the other sex. The men, instantly upon their death, were prepared and forthwith embalmed, thus checking even the first symptom of flesh decay; but with the superior or beautiful women, a delay took place of three or four days, for the express purpose of preventing the crime, which could only be done by the commencement of decomposition; and which decay, all the art of the Embalmers could never restore to that state when Death first made the fleshy-walls his chosen habitation!

Another, and a conclusive proof of the truth of Herodotus in regard to this Voyage, will be given at the conclusion of this Chapter.

This expedition was repeated, upon the authority of Pliny, by the Egyptians _themselves_ nearly 500 years after the first expedition by the Tyrians. This second undertaking was piloted by Eudoxus, at the command and expense of Ptolemy Lathyrus. The Greco-Egyptians had, during his reign (B. C. 116), become a powerful commercial nation,--Alexandria having been founded 215 years before by the warrior whose name was given to the emporium. The Voyage by Eudoxus seems to have been but the _imitation_ of a previous one,--with this exception, viz., that the pride of the Egyptians was called into action, to equal the former glory achieved by the Tyrians; and consequently in this voyage they had their own pilots, vessels, and mariners. Even the cognomen of this Ptolemy,--viz., Lathyrus,--(by simply omitting the letter-h,--or pronouncing it hard, as in thyme,--a herb) would seem to have some hidden meaning in reference to that pride. The nomen Ptolemy was a general name possessed by a long line of Kings from the death of Alexander,--as Pharaoh had been ages before the Macedonian,--but the cognomen, or surname was placed, or used, for some great event connected with the history of the possessor. The Romans practised this custom,--as instanced in the case of Scipio,--surnamed Africanus;--one of their Emperors received the cognomen of Germanicus,--and at an earlier period, Caius Marcius received the surname of Coriolanus,--all these were given for victories in the countries, of which their names of honourable distinction were the derivatives. In reference, therefore, to the surname Lathyrus,--by the omission, or hard sound of H, or by its silence as the letter P,--in the original name,--it would read Ptolemy Latyrus, and which might be easily rendered, in direct allusion to the second great Voyage having equalled the first.--_Ptolemy the Tyrian._

Enough has been adduced in support of the Expedition, as mentioned by Herodotus, to authorize a continuation of the subject.

In order to give a perfect illustration to the following remarks, and to the extracts from Scripture, a full elucidation of the celebrated "East-Wind" will be required, not only for the general reader, but for the advancement of this work. To facilitate the explanations, the reader should have before him a Map of the Atlantic Ocean (or a terrestrial globe), and observe where the Equator, or the equinoctial line, crosses the waters from the continent of Africa to that of America. It will be found to cross the shore of Nazareth Bay (Gulf of Guinea) on Africa,--and Jones' Land (at the mouth of the river Amazon) on America. This line (of course) passes around the entire globe. The reader will then trace 30 degrees of latitude from that line, both towards the North and the South Pole. Towards the _North_ Pole the line of 30 degrees (crossing the Atlantic) touches at the point of the kingdom of Morocco on Africa, _enclosing within that line the Fortunate Isles_ (_i. e._ the Canaries): on America it touches at St. Augustine,--_enclosing within the same line all of Florida_. The two sentences in Italics will be referred to in the subsequent pages. Towards the _South_ Pole the line of 30 degrees touches at the minor Namquois river on Africa, and at Tramaday on the American Continent. Now between these 60 degrees,--the Equator forming the centre,--_there is a_ PERPETUAL EAST-WIND _blowing_ FROM _Africa across the Atlantic_ TO _America_, and so around the Earth,--from East to West on our diurnal, and West to East on our nocturnal hemisphere.

This current of air has been called in modern times--the _Trade_ Wind,--a name evidently derived from the facility given by it to commercial intercourse, from Europe, Africa and India, with Central South America, and the West India Islands. It is, however, in the Bible always mentioned as the _East-Wind_, and as a proof of the truth of Scriptural record, (apart from its Religion) wherever a city or place is stated to have been effected by this East-Wind, _it will be found to be within the 60 degrees_ (as detailed above) on Asia or Africa! Thus Science will support Scriptural record, although some writers have hazarded the contrary assertion. This ancient phenomenon (which is now explained by Science) must have been encountered by the Tyrians during this celebrated voyage, and is alluded to by the Prophet EZEKIEL,--as will be shewn in proof that this expedition was accomplished.

The reader will remember that this perpetual East Wind blows _from_ the African _to_ the American Continent;--any vessel, therefore, going _to_ the Western Hemisphere (within the degrees specified) with its sails set,--square before the wind, and its rudder secured on its centre,--the ship would then reach America (tempests excepted) without a single seaman or pilot to man or steer the vessel: and as a consequence, therefore, any ship _from_ America to Europe or Africa,--or from India, having doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and coasting along the western coast of Africa (and being within the 60 degrees), would _meet_ that East-Wind,--and would have to encounter what is technically called "a head wind,"--and consequently be in great danger of being "broken in the midst of the Seas" and there foundering; and especially in crossing in the line of the Equator; for directly over that line is the Sun nearest to the Globe,--varying (of course) according to the seasonal changes.

This constant current of air,--this Boræan Mercury, capped and heeled with wings of Light,--passes from Africa over the broad Atlantic,--crossing the Continent of America and the great Pacific, he pursues his faithful flight over the vast lands of China, Australia, and Hindoostan,--is borne across the waters of the Indian Ocean, the Sea of Oman and the Gulf of Persia; the sands of Arabia, and the wall-divided sea of Israel; avoiding Europe and the Mediterranean, he reaches his fiery and cradled-home on Afric's burning deserts; but no cessation is here given to his perpetual course, his energies are but renewed, and on he speeds,--his "royal progress," commenced at Creation's birth, and must continue until Nature ceases,--the glorious Sun his mighty Parent,--Light itself his swift-speeding herald,--the Breeze, Gale, Storm, and Hurricane his children and attendants,--the golden eyes of Heaven, with their princely North-star, the witnesses of his constancy,--Earth and Ocean his grand and gorgeous kingdoms,--the central line of the entire Globe, and for two thousand miles on either side, his broad and majestic pathway! Man, his only opponent;--his only conqueror,--Science,--the imaged mind of that GOD, who in the Eden of the Universe planted the undying Trees of Knowledge and of Life.

SECTION II.

A SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF THE "EAST-WIND," AND OF THE MEANS FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE VOYAGE, &c.

A scientific analysis of the cause of this perpetual Easterly Wind may be acceptable to the general reader,--it is also required by the subject matter of this volume,--for the Tyrians had no knowledge of the cause, they but experienced the effects,--and this upon two occasions,--once in opposing its power, and at another time in receiving its friendly aid. Columbus received the same during his voyage, which was accomplished entirely by this East-Wind,--it not only wafted him with continuous speed and safety, but it also subdued the fierce elements of human conflict, as threatened by the mutiny of his crew. Upon the success, he and his companions regarded the perpetual wind blowing towards the Western Continent as a Providential interposition in their behalf! Such was the superstition only four centuries and a half ago; but Columbus merely followed a track, (and also from the _Canary Isles_) which had been ploughed by Tyrian Galleys, _eighteen centuries before_; and wafted by the same ceaseless wind, he reached an island _in a direct westerly line_, with the land or point of "Florida" first "touched" by his Phœnician predecessors! This we believe, in the subsequent volumes, will be firmly established. But to the analysis of this Orient Gale ever blowing towards the Occident.

We will first suppose (for illustration) that the Earth should suddenly cease its diurnal revolution, and become absolutely stationary;--in that case all the currents of air (winds) would rush from every part of the Globe towards that point over which the Sun (at the moment of the Earth's fixedness) should be vertical: and the Sun producing a partial vacuum by its heat, would cause the various currents of wind to leave the Globe, and rise in the form of a cone towards the immediate source of heat, and so rush with more or less fury, according to the degrees of the vacuum produced. Now from this contemplation of the action of air, upon the Earth being stationary, simply view the Globe in its _revolving_ condition according to its eternal law,--our diurnal hemisphere ever turning FROM _West_ TO _East_,--producing the natural fact, that every spot of earth (in the same latitude) holds nearly the same locality in infinite space once in every twenty-four hours! The Sun (for this second illustration) will be viewed as stationary,--and is nearest to the earth at the line farthest and most central from the North and South poles,--_i. e._ at the Equator,--the currents of air as a necessity pass from East _to_ West (the _reverse_ of the Earth's action) following the principles of rushing towards the partial vacuum created by the Sun's intensity. As the Sun is farther from the Poles than from the line of the Equator, so the East-Wind diminishes in ratio force towards the Poles (for the cold airs are attracted from them) and increases in the same degree of ratio in approaching the line from whence the North and South latitudes are measured. The distance, as already stated, is thirty degrees on either side of the Equator, thus forming by the laws of Nature a perpetual East-Wind encircling one hemisphere (and a West-Wind the other), and spreading to the width of 3600 miles around the entire Globe!

This fact enables us to elucidate a portion of Scripture having reference to the celebrated Passage of the Red Sea by the Israelites, which will be investigated in the next volume.

The principle of nature established in its law of attracting air even towards a partial vacuum, be it created by natural or artificial means of heat (for the quality of the result is the same) has been shewn to prove, that the Earth revolving one way, (West to East) and the current of air rushing another, having the Sun as its source of attraction, must of a necessity produce the constant East-Wind. This secret of Nature instantly unfolds why the great Ocean on the _Western_ coast of America is truly named _Pacific_, when compared to the tempests of the Atlantic. As thus:--the hot sands of Africa for man adjunct power to the Sun in creating an increased yet partial vacuum,--the winds, therefore, are attracted with doubled quantity on Africa,--thence the Simooms; but being compelled by Nature's law to follow (as it were) to the Sun, the quantity consequently drawn from Africa to its immediate neighbour, the Atlantic, is in the ratio of acquisition at the original source, Africa; but when on the Atlantic, the waters--not possessing the sand-heat, and thence losing the concentration--disperse the mass of storm-winds, and they pass over the Atlantic, gradually losing their force as they are removed from Africa; and in crossing over the American Continent, having no longer the hot sands to regenerate the increased vacuum, the East-Wind reaches the great Ocean truly in a _Pacific_ state; and so continues around the Globe, until it comes within the influence of the furnace sands, when it again commences its impetuous course, and thence on to the Atlantic. The name--_Pacific Ocean_, was given from an absolute truth--an _effect_,--not from an analysis of the _cause_,--we humbly submit that the latter is now produced.

Upon the same principle, the burning sands of Arabia, which are unendurable during the day, owing to the excessive heat contained,--possess at night the cool and reviving air;--it does not so much pass over the desert (in the absence of the Sun) as it is actually _drawn down vertically upon the sands_, like an avalanche;--for the cold air of the upper region, upon feeling the effects, and attraction of the substratum of heat, must follow the established principle,--as, also, the greater weight of the cold air follows the law of gravitation.

Pursuing this reasoning upon _effect_ from _cause_, (and without which we cannot advance in wisdom) the following singular result must not only be apparent, but actually would be obtained,--viz., A Cloud surcharged with rain, and at a low distance from the Earth, and on a calm day, could be compelled to restore its stolen treasure, without waiting for its own period of honesty! This could be done by _artificial_ means, yet the living _cause_ would be that of _Nature_ and her laws,--viz., by _heat_. As thus,--if beneath that Rain-Cloud should be erected combustible matter covering a large extent; and upon being ignited the gathered heat _should reach that cloud_,--as a necessity, the heavier cold air within, and around, that mass of vapour, would descend towards the partial vacuum occasioned by the heat,--with more or less speed according to the intensity,--and thence discharge the accumulated particles of rain upon the flame!

In following out the above train of reasoning, another secret is unveiled,--viz., During the dreadful Conflagrations of Cities and Capitals,--of Forests or Prairies,--it is almost invariably recorded, that the light wind increased to a breeze,--from that to a gale, or hurricane, and perhaps from a friendly quarter,--or that the Rain descended in torrents, and so Providentially extinguished the fierce fury of the flaming element:--in both these cases they were indeed Providential, for they were based upon the undeviating laws of _cause_ and _effect_,--of GOD and _Nature_! By thus tracing the second principle (for it has its own results) to the first, how much is Religious veneration increased, when reflecting upon The Great Cause of the entire Universe!--The _effects_ then appear but as the sparkling atoms of His ever brilliant Glory,--and the myriad of Worlds the mere witnesses of His infinite Power!

We have digressed,--we were never yet upon a happy path, or pursuit, that we did not wish to follow it out,--for true happiness is found only in the walks of wisdom.

It may perhaps be proper to state, that the Orient Gale is mentioned in various parts of Scripture, and especially by the following inspired writers,--viz., MOSES [Exodus x. 13.--xiv. 21.] DAVID [Psalms xlviii. 7.] HOSEA [xiii. 15.] JEREMIAH [xviii. 17.] and by EZEKIEL [xvii. 10.--xix. 12.--xxvii. 26.]

The great miracles of the plague of Locusts,--and the Passage of the Red Sea, were both carried into effect by the instrumentality of this celebrated Wind.

"And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an _East-wind_ upon the land all that day, and all that night: and when it was morning _the East-wind_ brought the locusts."

"And Moses stretched out his hand over the Sea: and the LORD caused the Sea to go back by _a strong East-wind_ all that night, and made the Sea dry land, and the waters were divided."

"Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with _an East-wind_."

"Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an _East-wind_ shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the _wilderness_, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels."

"I will scatter them as with _an East-wind_ before the enemy: I will shew the back and not the face, in the day of their calamity."

"Yea, behold, being planted shall it prosper? Shall it not utterly wither when the _East-wind_ toucheth it? It shall wither in the furrows where it grew."

"But she was plucked up in _fury_, she was cast down to the ground, and the _East-wind_ dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered, the fire consumed them."

Another quotation from EZEKIEL is reserved for the next Section, to illustrate the Expedition.

In the Book of JONAH, the very _cause_ of the East-Wind (_i. e._ _heat_) is given by the Prophet of Nineveh,--not given as an explanation, but as an attendant fact,--after 2700 years Science gives the former, by an application of the fact, and thus establishes another proof of the truth of Scriptural record.

"And it came to pass, when the _Sun did arise_, that GOD prepared _a vehement East-wind_: and _the Sun_ beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live." [iv. 8.]

Presuming that this branch of our subject has been sufficiently explained,--a slight review of the Tyrian vessels will be required, for the purpose of ascertaining whether they were of sufficient size and strength to endure this voyage around the Continent of Africa; and at a later period to cross the Atlantic Ocean. One examination will answer for both questions.

The Tyrians had two species of large vessels. The earliest were the _Gauli_, so called from being nearly round, and used for coasting purposes, between Tyrus and the neighbouring ports,--this species of Galley had a sail and a few oars. The superior vessels for long voyages were Galleys of a much larger class, and oblong in shape,--they had one, two, or three banks of oars, in addition to one or two very large square-sails. The _rows_ of oarsmen (hence the name of _rowers_ to this time, although the mode of working has passed away) were so placed on their banks or seats, as to be all seen by the officer of the deck,--for the centre of the Galley was open down nearly to the ballast. They all kept time, and moved together, by watching the action of the officer (at the stern of the vessel) having the command of the rowers,--or by _singing_,--hence, we apprehend, arose the marine name,--Mer-chants, _i. e._ Singers of the Sea,--for the name is first applied in Scripture to the Tyrians.

It has already been shewn that a Tyrian navy was built for King SOLOMON nearly four hundred years before this period, and that it returned from India in safety. Of the size of those vessels there is no record; but from the character of the Voyage, conclusions may be formed, as also of those employed in the Expedition now under consideration. From the following data a satisfactory deduction will be obtained: viz.--The Galley in which ST. PAUL embarked at his reshipment, and that, too, belonging to the Tyrian side of the Mediterranean, contained two hundred and seventy-six human beings,--consequently it was from 400 to 500 tons burden. "And we were in all, in the ship, two hundred, three score, and sixteen souls." [Acts xxvii. 37.]

The Tyrian Galleys, as we have shewn, had not only large sails, but many Rowers,--so that calm weather was no hindrance to their progress. The "hundred oars" took the place of Steam, as now employed upon the Ocean, to be used in all weathers, and consequently independent of the sail,--the latter being used as the wind would permit. The Sail was generally employed only before the wind, or slightly on the quarter,--otherwise the pressure of the wind upon the sail would heave one side of the vessel down, and consequently drown the oars, while the opposite rowers would be useless, from their oars being out of water. The great force with which the ancient rowers could propel their Galleys, may be gathered from the naval engagement of Salamis (the "Nile" of the Greeks), where their prow-beaks were driven into the sides of the Persian vessels,--and thus grappled, they boarded the invaders, and fought hand to hand; while many of the Persian Galleys were run down, and instantly sunk by the force and impetuosity of the Rowers, who, be it remembered, were like the Tyrians, not "_slaves_ at the oar," but the _freemen_ of their respective nations.

The vessels were also capacitated to carry sufficient provisions for long voyages; and in this Expedition, which was to circumnavigate the Continent of Africa, the Tyrians would consequently keep in sight of land,--for by _coasting_ only, could their peculiar object be accomplished; and therefore the food to be obtained by fishing (their favourite pursuit) near the shores would alone have been ample. Fresh water, also, from the coasting character of the voyage, would be always within their reach.

Thus it has been shewn that the Pilots and Mariners were competent, the Galleys capacious, strong, and swift, and provisions and water abundant. The King of Egypt had wished for the expedition; Eth-baal of Tyrus, had furnished the material; both Monarchs threw into the scale of inclination the weight of their wealth and power; and in the indomitable pride of the Tyrians was the security that it would be accomplished. Herodotus states, that it was successful. His assertion is not _denied_ by any Historian, and from what has been quoted in regard to his accuracy, it cannot be impeached. We shall now proceed to a description of the Voyage, and the production of additional proofs,--the supposed track of the expedition, and the discoveries,-- and for convenience of reference, modern terms will be generally employed.

SECTION III.

THE EXPEDITION, &c.

As in the delineation of this celebrated Voyage, the East-Wind will be alluded to; the reader will bear in mind its locality upon the diurnal hemisphere,--viz.: extending to 30 degrees North and South of the Equator. Now, in consulting the Map, it will be found that 30 degrees North passes directly through Suez, at the extreme North-East point of the Red Sea. From this place then (Suez), it is probable that the Tyrians hoisted sail and plied their oars. They therefore commenced the Voyage under the minor influence of this Easterly Wind.

609 B. C.] They begun their Voyage, therefore, by leaving Suez; and sailing along the shores of the Red Sea, and through the Straits of Babelmandeb, they doubled Cape Guardatoy, passing between that point and the Island of Socatra. This Isle (subsequently hallowed by the foot of ST. THOMAS) was probably seen by the Tyrians ages before, during the various voyages of their ancestors to India and Ceylon. The present adventurers, however, had now entered a new track, and hugging the Eastern shore of Africa, coasted past the lands of Adel and Ajan, and so to the Equator of the Indian Ocean. Having crossed the equinoctial line, they reached the first river of importance, the Zebe; and near to _Melinda_, they must have observed the "incident" of Nature, and have had every feeling of awe and superstition aroused at the sight. Herodotus was so much surprised when he first heard of it, that it caused the only doubt in his mind concerning the Voyage: but it was seen by the Tyrians, and is visible at this day, and has been from Creation's dawn, and will be for ever! This will be explained as we proceed. Following the coast of Zanzibar, they passed through the Channel of Mozambique, the now inner passage to India from America and Europe. Leaving the Island of Madagascar on the left, they reached Port Natal. At this point is the termination of 30 degrees South latitude on the _Indian_ Ocean; having sailed in all from Suez, 60 degrees of latitude. Now during this part of the Expedition, the East-Wind had blown them _towards the land_, and so favoured their enterprise, which was commenced for the purpose of _coasting_ the African Continent, and consequently they would use every endeavour to keep the land in sight,--to Port Natal, Nature had befriended them. Continuing on 10 degrees of Southern latitude, they reached the Cape of Good Hope. Here the constant wind, which had accompanied them as a friendly convoy from Suez to Natal, now deserted them, and the fierce currents of air rushed as enemies from every quarter to oppose their further progress; and terrible indeed must have been the passing of that stormy Cape to mariners for the first time; they had no previous report of the dangers, but had to meet the foe, as it were, in ambush,--they had no North-Star or Compass to guide them,--their astro-beacons upon the Mediterranean had been the _Ursa_ Constellations; but even those, perhaps, were now obscured by their locality, or by the rising and gathering storm-clouds.

608 B. C.] Having doubled the Cape of Good Hope (probably at the end of the first year) and sailing northward along the western coast of Africa 10 degrees towards the Equator, brought them to the minor river of Namquois,--at this point is the thirty degrees of South latitude on the _Atlantic_ ocean, and the commencement of the East-Wind blowing _from_ Africa, and with much greater force than from the Indian Ocean _towards_ Africa, and for the reason previously stated, viz., that both the Sun and the hot sands of the Desert join their united powers in producing the fierce air-currents,--and consequently this strong wind thus blowing from Africa, has a direct tendency to drift vessels from the coasting of the shores into the broad Atlantic,--and in the present case of the Tyrians, they would have to struggle continually against the power of this East-Wind to keep in sight of land; it was accomplished only by the skill and strength of the Rowers, and this was especially required when they reached the Equator at the Gulf of Guinea,--for here without doubt they encountered the terrific effects of the Equinoctial hurricanes;--all their skill and courage were now demanded,--their Rowers had reached the broad and raging waters of untracked seas,--here their fleet may have sundered, and many a galley have been dismasted, or "broken," and so foundered. We believe that this was the case at this point of their Voyage, for in the words of the Prophet EZEKIEL, who (as will be proved) was speaking of this Expedition by the Tyrians, and of the peculiar Wind causing these disasters,--not spoken as a Prophecy, but as a cause accomplishing the disasters:--

"Thy Rowers _have_ brought thee (Tyrus) into _great waters_: the _East-wind_ HATH _broken thee in the midst of the Seas_!"

If at this period they had had _sails_ only, they would have been cast abroad upon the Atlantic Ocean, and so have been driven to America;--but we will not avail ourselves of a _possibility_, when we are possessed of a _probability_ and _truth_ as to the cause and means of their reaching the Western Hemisphere, which the subsequent pages will, (we believe) prove and establish. In this voyage their object was apparent, and upon losing masts and sails, still the power of the Rowers would accomplish that object,--viz., of coasting the African shores, and consequently prevent the drifting of a Galley to America. Their determination was to reach that home where their king and countrymen were waiting with open arms to receive the adventurous "spirits of the vasty deep,"--Egypt, also, was waiting to give her welcome, and to announce the victory of Science. We are anxious to destroy even any apparent possibility (however remote) of their reaching the Western Hemisphere during this voyage. We desire this History to rest upon the more lasting basis of strong and apparent truth and probability,--but, even if a Galley had drifted across the Atlantic, an absolute _cause_ exists against even the _possibility_ of their _populating_ America at this time. Of this hereafter,--if the ingenious reader has not already guessed the reason.

Having escaped from the hurricanes of the Equator, and having "crossed the line," the, to them, phenomenon of Nature again appeared, but in a different aspect, exciting again their fears and alarm,--yet mingled with recovering joy, for it appeared the same as when they, at Tyrus, gazed upon the rising Sun, and knelt in prayer to the Apollo of their ancestors! We will not anticipate this "phenomenon," although the ingenuity of the reader may--we retain it for our final proof that this Expedition was accomplished.

Having passed the Equator they followed the Gold and Ivory coasts,--doubled the Capes Palmas and Verd,--passing between the latter and the Island of the same name,--doubled Capes Blanco and Barbas,--and having reached nearly thirty degrees of North latitude they must have seen with some astonishment a snow-crowned peak, rising like a sparkling Pharos of the Ocean. They could not (within the scope of probability) have passed between it and the Continent and not have seen it, as they must have been several days in reaching the base of so elevated a land-beacon; and having witnessed so conspicuous an object they would not pass without landing. The ocean and silver-crested giant attracting the attention of the Tyrians, was the now renowned Peak of Teneriffe, upon the Island of the name; and forming the principal of a group of thirteen, now called the Canaries, but known in ancient geography as the Fortunate Isles. They are all within the thirty degrees of North latitude, and consequently within the influence of the East-Wind. This fact is of importance, and will again be brought forward,--we mention this to impress the fact upon the mind of the reader.

The Tyrians in all probability landed at Teneriffe,--"replenished," refitted, and repaired all damages, for a continuation of the voyage;--of its remaining distance as yet they could have no intelligence. They were, however, within ten degrees of the Herculean Gates of that Sea, which their fellow-countrymen claimed to be their own! As the entire expedition occupied three years in its accomplishment they probably landed at the Isle of Teneriffe in about two and a half years from the time of their leaving Suez. [606-1/2 B. C.]

It appears certain that none of the Tyrians would leave the Galleys for the purpose of becoming the Aborigines of the Island at this time,--for they knew not of the future dangers of the voyage, therefore "all hands" were required. Again,--the peculiar character of the Expedition would not permit it,--and having been so long from their native land, together with the pride of receiving the National applause attendant upon their Nautical triumph,--would be against any supposition that the Tyrians would remain from choice, or as exiles and outcasts. This slight review of the apparent impossibility of any of the voyagers remaining upon the Islands after the departure of the Galleys, is required in order to establish in the future pages, when the Phœnicians did land and dwell there, and so account for the ancient Mummies found at this day in the rocky caverns of Teneriffe;--and of which, allusion and comparisons have been made, in investigating the Tyrian and Mexican analogies. [Vol. i., Book i., ch. vii., § 4.] We considered it established, therefore, that no settled residence would take place at any period of this Expedition: and apart from all other reasons, there is one that would render it absolutely impossible,--viz., They had not with them that lovely portion of Nature, without which life itself is but a desert Isle or a desolation,--viz., _Woman_! This fact, also, produced an incontrovertible argument against even the _possibility_ (as before hinted) that the foundations of the Aboriginal family were laid in Ancient America during any period of this Expedition. This part of the argument must appear to every reader as irrefragable. The custom of not permitting the Wives to accompany the mariners, and especially on a Voyage of Discovery, is practised even at this day. This arises not only from physical reasons, but from mental causes;--for in the hour of storm or wreck, the courage of the mariner would be divided from his duty, remembering that his affections were in danger; and in contemplating the proverbial solicitude and devotion of Woman, for the safety of her husband or her child, he would be compelled to turn from the general rescue, to aid her resolution, and selfishly (though naturally) confront danger for themselves alone.

By thus proving the impossibility of Ancient America having been founded during this Expedition, and for the above reason,--we bring down upon ourselves the responsibility of proving, that when the Western Continent was first reached, _Women were the associates of the Voyage_! We bring this proposition forward for the purpose of proving to the reader, that it is not intended to establish this Romance of Time (_i. e._ Truth) upon idle or visionary grounds.

The group of Islands now left by the Tyrians were of a character, from their locality and natural produce, (and especially that one possessing the snow-crowned Peak,) not to be forgotten by the voyagers in relating "the dangers they had passed."

They now coasted along the shores of Morocco and Fez, and entering the Straits of Gibraltar, passed the Pillars of Hercules, and floated on the waters of their native Sea,--thus proving for the first time that the boundary Columns of Alcides had been erected in vain;--and also, that human ingenuity and perseverance will conquer, and bear down all the barriers erected by Superstition as the landmarks of human Intellect!

In their triumphant passage along the shores of the Mediterranean, Carthage would not be passed unvisited by the descendants of the same race, who had followed the fortunes of a Tyrian Princess, when driven from her own land by treachery and cruelty. Leaving the Republic of Carthage, (in which commercial storehouse they must have seen the germs of a future rival,) with what pride and joy must they have reached the Delta of the Nile?--and beyond those feelings, when Tyrus was seen from the round-top of a galley-mast,--or when from their native shore they received the united voice of a gladdened nation?

Three years of danger and unyielding courage, upon an extended field of Science, preserved the fame of Egypt's King, and gave new and brilliant glory to the Tyrians and their Sovereign.

Pharaoh-Necho had achieved his wish by the circumnavigation of the Continent, of which Egypt was the Capital, and this being the only object of the Egyptian, all discoveries of Islands, as forming no part of the African Continent, would therefore be claimed by the Tyrians as their own. The Fortunate Isles (_i. e._ Canaries) for instance,--and consequently Ithobalus and his successors, would be the rightful "Kings of those Islands" discovered during this voyage, and situated "beyond the Sea,"--and to be reached by passing through the Gates of Gades,--_i. e._ Straits of Gibraltar.

Even if Pharaoh had claimed the Isles discovered, it would have been useless, for he had no navy (if opposed by Tyrus) to support that claim. It is not probable that he would attempt it,--but even the supposition is set at rest, for the King of Babylon conquered Pharaoh-Necho and Egypt, only _seven years_ after this voyage, for compelling him to raise the first Siege of Jerusalem. Pharaoh was receiving his annual tribute from the Jews: Nebuchadnezzar, therefore, instantly left Judæa and turned his warfare upon the Egyptians, [599 B. C.] captured all the treasure of the Nile, and returned triumphant to the Euphrates.

This Section will be concluded by producing the authority of Scripture (with the incident of Nature) to support the statement of Herodotus: and although the Prophets will be quoted, in this instance Prophecy itself has no bearing upon the subject,--their words upon this direct investigation only refer to that _which had taken place_, and consequently only of past record, and not for predictions of a future. This was the case with JEREMIAH and EZEKIEL, but,--_not with_ ISAIAH,--and upon this fact do we rest the Scriptural record of the successful accomplishment of this Voyage. Our argument is as follows,--viz., In the Prophecy by ISAIAH already quoted [Book ii., ch. v.] there is no allusion whatever to this Expedition, and for the reason,--that ISAIAH wrote of the doom of Tyrus 106 years _before_ the period of this Voyage,--consequently the absence of all notice by this Sacred writer (the subject not being prophetical) proves at least that the naval enterprise was undertaken _after_ the time in which he prophecied the downfall of the Tyrian Nation:--Following out this train of reasoning, any Prophet, therefore, who came _after_ the Expedition, and in speaking, or writing, of Tyrus, _should allude to it_ as having taken place,--for it would form another item in the gathered glory of Sidon's Daughter, and would be included in that long list of pride about to be cancelled by the Babylonian Conquest. The reader will find that the later Prophets _did_ allude to this Voyage, and, also, to the cluster of Isles of which Teneriffe is the principal.

The first of these is JEREMIAH, who prophesied the destruction of several offending Nations, in the first year of the reign of the King of Babylon, and the fourth of Jehoiakim, Monarch of Judæa,--this was in the beginning of the year 606 B. C. Now supposing that the Voyagers left Suez in the commencement of the year 609 B. C. and occupying three years in the enterprise,--would bring the defined period to the end of 607 B. C.--consequently JEREMIAH wrote his words _only a few Months_ after the triumphant issue, and discovery of "the Isles beyond the Sea,"--the account of which would speed through Judæa and the surrounding nations, as it had through Egypt and Tyrus. It is a remarkable circumstance, that in tracing back the history of this Voyage nearly 2500 years, that it should be found to have been alluded to only a few months,--perhaps weeks--after its accomplishment, and in the sacred page of Scripture: and it is still more singular, that writers upon this subject of record by Herodotus, should have passed it unheeded; as, also, the allusion by EZEKIEL.

The Prophecy by JEREMIAH concerning Judæa, as well as of Tyrus, will be quoted in order to shew the character of the approaching destruction. The last lines contain the allusion mentioned, having reference to the discovery of the Fortunate Isles.

"For thus said the Lord GOD of Israel unto me,--Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it: and they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. To wit,--Jerusalem and the Cities of Judæa and the Kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse: as it is at this day. _And all the Kings of Tyrus_, and all the Kings of Sidon,--and _the Kings of the Isles which are_ BEYOND _the Sea_." [xxv.]

Now "_the Sea_" mentioned, means (as it does throughout the Bible) the _Mediterranean_, and especially when Tyrus is written of,--several proofs of this are found in the Book of EZEKIEL.

"It (Tyrus) shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of _the Sea_."

"Then all the princes of _the Sea_ shall come down from their thrones," &c.

"How art thou destroyed, that was inhabited of sea-faring men,--the renowned City,--which was strong in _the Sea_," &c.

"Now shall the Isles tremble in the day of thy fall: yea, the Isles that are _in_ [not "beyond"] _the Sea_, shall be troubled at thy _departure_."

When Pharaoh's fatal Sea is spoken of, it is called by its name in full,--_i. e. The Red Sea_:--the Asphaltine Sea covering the crime-smitten Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, is called _the Dead Sea_,--and so of others,--but "_the Sea_" defines it to be the Mediterranean.

The Islands referred to by JEREMIAH are stated to be "_beyond the Sea_"--_i. e._ Isles beyond the mouth of the Mediterranean, reached by passing through the Straits of Gibraltar; and the language, therefore, alludes distinctly to the Fortunate Isles discovered by the Tyrians during the voyage. "The Kings of Tyrus" were, also, by right of discovery the actual "Kings of the Isles which are beyond the Sea." That these are the Islands referred to, may be gathered from the fact, that the last quotation from EZEKIEL proves that the Isles of the Mediterranean are spoken of as being "_in_ the Sea," in direct contradistinction to those "_beyond_ the Sea." The same defined locality is found in ISAIAH.

"Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires [Hebrew, "valleys"] even the name of the LORD GOD of Israel, in the Isles _of the Sea_." [xxiv. 15.]

The Prophet here refers to Cyprus, Crete, Sicily, and Sardinia, for these are "Isles OF" or "IN" the Mediterranean,--while the Fortunatæ Insulæ are those denominated "_beyond_" the same Sea,--Britain and Hibernia were not yet discovered by the Tyrians;--and the only Islands at this time known to them "_beyond_" the _Mare Internum_, were those discovered during this celebrated Expedition;--truly so, for being alluded to by the Sacred writers, proves the importance attached to it in the days of Prophecy. The Islands discovered, and claimed by the Tyrians, were additional causes for their fatal pride,--and are, therefore, the only part of the enlarging Kingdom referred to by JEREMIAH,--from the apparent fact, that the terrible prediction in alluding to a recent geographical discovery, would attract the instant attention, and arouse the fears of the Judæans as well as the Tyrians.

EZEKIEL uttered his celebrated Prophecy concerning Tyrus 588 B. C., consequently only _eighteen_ years after the Voyage. He should, therefore, allude to it, if our previous argument is founded upon just grounds in reference to ISAIAH'S _not_ writing of it.

EZEKIEL in issuing his malediction against Tyrus, its King, Prince, and People, gathers in his catalogue of their united powers all that had made them great, and unrivalled among the nations of the earth. He commences by stating their knowledge of Shipbuilding and Navigation,--then the various Kingdoms receiving their Commercial commodities, and the riches given in return,--progressing in his description in apparent chronological order,--for this singular fact is arrived at,--viz., that the last verse referring to the deeds of the Tyrians, covers distinctly this very Voyage,--and which took place only 18 years before the Prophecy, and was, therefore, probably their last great action, before they were besieged and conquered by the King of Babylon; and which event was only three years after the prediction of EZEKIEL,--who, in alluding to the last effort for fame by the Tyrians, and causing additional pride of heart, says--

"_Thy_ ROWERS _have brought thee_ (Tyrus) _into_ GREAT _waters_ [_i. e._ the Atlantic]--_the_ EAST-WIND _hath broken thee in the midst of the_ SEAS." [xxvii.]

The word "Sea" in the singular number, and without any pre-nomen as _Dead Sea_, &c., has already been shewn, and from the same writer, to have direct reference to the Mediterranean. In the above quotation he evidently means larger, and collective bodies of "great waters,"--_i. e. Seas_,--(plural).--Again,--In the same chapter he writes:

"And thou wast replenished [at the Insulæ?] and made very glorious in the midst of the _Seas_."

He even seems to define the boundary of Tyrus in the Atlantic, for _Islands_ are distinctly alluded to.

"Thy _borders_ are in the _midst of the Seas_."

And as a distinct contrast of locality; he says of the Capital of the Mediterranean,--

"What City is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the _Sea_."

The Capital, at this time, was partly on the Island, but principally on the mainland. It is submitted that both JEREMIAH and EZEKIEL alluded to this Voyage and its discoveries.

We have reserved a positive, a conclusive proof, of the accomplishment of the Expedition until this time, that it might remove all doubts upon the subject. It, also, brings direct evidence against the supposition that in reaching Ophir (the locality of which is not yet defined) the Tyrian ships of SOLOMON could have passed around the Cape of Good Hope,--for if they had,--leagues before they reached there, they would have observed the same (to them) strange "incident" of Nature, and consequently have recorded it.

Herodotus in writing of this Voyage (and which he firmly believed) had his doubts upon one point only,--viz., the strange reports of the Pilots and Mariners upon their return to Tyrus, which were,--that during the Voyage their SHADOWS (as they looked at the Sun's rising) fell upon, or from their _right_-hand,--they (the Shadows) having consequently _changed_ from the _left_ hand, as they remembered them to fall at Phœnicia and the Mediterranean;--and a greater wonder still,--that their Shadows changed back again, as they continued their voyage, from right to left!

The Greek Historian viewed this report with astonishment and disbelief; and without doubt, it was originally regarded and laughed at as a mariner's story by both Tyrians and Egyptians,--for it was not likely, in their Theory of the Solar System, (this was before Pythagoras,) that any of the Ancients could be convinced that the Sun would alter its course or nature, so as to meet the result reported by the home-returned mariners, but which was given by them as an attested fact. The Ancients [606 B. C.] believed that the Earth was a Globe, because they believed that the Sun daily travelled _around_ it,--but of the revolving character of the Earth, or of its measurement, they had no conception. Even Herodotus, therefore, looked upon the shadow-report as

"The baseless fabric of a vision,"

and regarded it not only with incredulity, but as an entire fiction of the Tyrian voyagers.

But modern Science proves the absolute _truth_ of the Tyrian report,--viz., _their Shadows changing from left to right_, &c.; and this, as a necessity, was occasioned by _their having crossed the line of the Equator_!

If the story of the Pilots and Mariners _had not_ been given to their countrymen upon their return, it would at this day be a strong presumptive proof that the Expedition was _not_ accomplished; but having rendered the "incident" of Nature upon their arrival, it is a conclusive and undeniable proof that the Voyage was successfully completed, and during the time mentioned by Herodotus. Having sailed from the Red Sea, _and crossed the line of the Equator_, and looking East, their Shadows must have changed from left to right, and be perceptible at, or near, Melinda; and having doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and passed the Equator of the Atlantic, their Shadows would again change from right to left, near the Gulf of Guinea, and appear the same as when sailing upon the Mediterranean.

The statements of Herodotus concerning the "shifting of the shadows," and the manner of "extracting the brain" previous to Embalming; and with the foregone proofs of their accuracy both from science and ocular demonstration, are without their parallels for supporting the authenticity of an Ancient Historian--and truly may he be called the _Father_ of History--for Nations were his children, and justly he wrote of them. Time has become his executor, and renders him ample justice in return for his valuable legacy to posterity!

We have been anxious to establish the accomplishment of this celebrated Voyage, the first mentioned having reference to the circumnavigation of a Continent;--but, more especially have we been solicitous to prove that _the Fortunate Isles were known to the Tyrians during this Expedition_;--for those Islands form an important feature in the great event to follow. In the endeavour to confirm these propositions, we have pursued a path of research and reasoning, we believe, untrodden, or attempted by any writer upon the subject. The Greek Historian is supported by his own accuracy of character and delineation,--and he is directly confirmed by Holy-Writ. JEREMIAH wrote of it only a few months after the Expedition. EZEKIEL 18 years subsequently, and Herodotus 122 years after the enterprise. The later (and jealous) Romans only are silent:--_they do not deny it_,--which they would naturally have done, if they would not also have been liable to have been contradicted.

We now submit the subject to the reader's opinion, upon a review of the evidence, facts, and reasoning upon the entire proposition; and shall proceed with the History of Tyrus and the Migration, in the belief that the decision is in the affirmative;--and that consequently _the Fortunate Isles_ (_i. e._ the Canaries) are admitted to have been discovered, and claimed, by the Tyrians during this first great Voyage around the Continent of Africa, and between the years 609-606 before the Christian Æra; and that from the _natural_ reason stated,--viz., the absence of Woman--the Founding of Ancient America could not have taken place at that time.