This fcene or fpectacle, as I before observed, highly deferves our attention and admiration, and will difplay itfelf gradually, in proportion as I advance in relating the ancient hiftory, of which it seems to me to form an effential part. It is with the view of making the reader attentive to this object that I think it incumbent on me to add to the account of facts and events, what regards the manners and cuftoms of nations: because thefe fhow their genius and character, which we may call, in fome measure, the foul of history. For to take notice only of æras and events, and confine our curiofity and researches to them, would be imitating the imprudence of a traveller, who, in vifiting many countries, fhould content himself with knowing their exact distance from each other, and confider only the fituation of the feveral places, the manner of building, and the dreffes of the people; without giving himself the least trouble to converfe with the inhabitants, in order to inform himself of their genius, manners, difpofition, laws, and government. Homer, whofe defign was to give, in the perfon of Ulyffes, a model of a wife and intelligent traveller, tells us, at the very opening of his Odyffey, that his hero informed himself very exactly in the manners and cuftoms of the feveral people whofe cities he vifited; in which he ought to be imitated by every perfon who applies himself to the study of hiftory.

A geographical Defcription of Afia.

As Afia will hereafter be the principal fcene of the history we are now entering upon, it may not be improper to give the reader fuch a general idea of it, as may at least communicate fome knowledge of its most confiderable provinces and cities.

The northern and eastern parts of Afia are less known in ancient history.

To the north are Afiatic Sarmatia and Afiatic Scythia, which anfwer to Tartary.

Sarmatia

Sarmatia is fituated between the river Tanais, which divides Europe and Afia, and the river Rha, or Volga. Scythia is divided into two parts; the one on this, the other on the other fide of mount Imaus. The nations of Scythia beft known to us are the Sacæ and the Maffagetæ.

The most eastern parts are, Șerica, Cathay; Sinarum Regio, China; and India. This laft country was better known anciently than the two former. It was divided into two parts; the one on this fide the river Ganges, included between that river and the Indus, which now compofes the dominions of the Great Mogul; the other part, was that on the other fide of the Ganges.

The remaining part of Afia, of which much greater mention is made in hiftory, may be divided into five or fix parts, taking it from eaft to weft.

I. The Greater Afia, which begins at the river Indus. The chief provinces are, Gedrofia, Carmania, Arachofia, Drangiania, Bactriana, the capital of which was, Bactria; Sogdiana, Margiana, Hyrcania, near the Cafpian Sea; Parthia, Media, the city Ecbatana; Perfia, the cities of Persepolis and Elymais; Sufiana, the city of Sufa; Affyria, the city of Nineveh, fituated on the river Tigris; Mefopotamia, between the Euphrates and Tigris; Babylonia, the city of Babylon on the river Euphrates.

II. Afia between Pontus Euxinus and the Cafpian Sea. Therein we may diftinguith four provinces. 1. Colchis, the river Phafis, and Mount Caucafus. 2. Iberia. 3. Albania; which two laft mentioned provinces now form part of Georgia. 4. The greater Armenia. This is feparated from the leffer by the Euphrates; from Mefopotamia by Mount Taurus; and from Affyria by Mount Niphatés. Its cities are C 2

Artaxata

Artaxata and Tigranocerta, and the river Araxes runs through it.

III. Afia Minor. This may be divided into four or five parts, according to the different fituation of its provinces,

1. Northward, on the fhore of Pontus Euxinus; Pontus, under three different names. Its cities are, Trapezus, not far from whence are the people called Chalybes or Chaldai: Themifcyra, a city on the river Thermadoon, and famous for having been the abode of the Amazons. Paphlagonia, Bithynia; the cities of which are, Nicia, Prufia, Nicomedia, Chalcedon oppofite Conftantinople, and Heraclea.

2. Weftward, going down by the fhores of the Agean Sea; Myfia, of which there are two.

The

Leffer, in which flood Cyzicus, Lampfacus, Parium, Abydos oppofite to Seftos, from which it is feparated only by the Dardanelles; Dardanum, Sigæum, Ilion, or Troy; and almoft on the oppofite fide, the little ifland of Tenedos. The rivers are, the Arfepe, the Granicus, and the Simois. Mount Ida. This region is fometimes called Phrygia Minor, of which Troas is part.

The Greater Myfia. Antandros, Trajanopolis, Adramyttum, Pergamus. Oppofite to this Myfia is the iland of Lefbos; the cities of which are, Methymna, where the celebrated Arion was born; and Mitylene, whence the whole island was fo called.

Eolia. Elea, Cuma, Phocæa.

Ionia. Smyrna, Clazomena, Teos, Lebedus, Colophon, Ephefus, Priene, Miletus.

Caria. Laodicea, Antiochia, Magnefia, Alabarda. The river Mæander.

3

Doris. Halicarnaffus, Cnidos,

Oppofite to thefe four laft countries, are the inlands Chos, Samos, Pathmos, Cos; and lower towards the Louth, Rhodes.

3. Southward, along the Mediterranean;

Lycia, the cities of which are, Telmeffus, Patara." The river Xanthus. Here begins Mount Taurus, which runs the whole length of Asia, and affumes different names, according to the feveral countries through which it paffes.

Pamphylia. Perfia, Afpendus, Sida.

Cilicia. Seleucia, Corycium, Tarfus, on the river Cydnus. Oppofite to Cilicia is the island of Cyprus. The cities are, Salamis, Amathus, and Paphos.

4. Along the banks of the Euphrates, going up northward;

The Leffer Armenia. Comana, Arabyza, Melitene, Satala. The river Melas, which empties itfelf into the Euphrates.

5. Inlands.

Cappadocia. The cities whereof are, Neocæfarea, Comana Pontica, Sebaftia, Sebaftopolis, Diocæfarea, Cæfarea, otherwife called Mazaca, and Tyana. Lycaonia and Ifauria. Iconium, Ifauria." Pifidia. Seleuca and Antiochia of Pifidia.

Lydia. Its cities are, Thyatyria, Sardis, Philadelphia. The rivers are, Cayitrus and Hermus, into which the Pactolus empties itself. Mount Sipulus

and Tmolus.

Phrygia Major. Synnada, Apamia.

IV. Syria, now named Suria, called under the Roman emperors, the East, the chief provinces of which are,

1 Palestine, by which name is fometimes underftood all Judea. Its cities are, Jerufalem, Samaria, and Cæfaria Palestina. The 'river Jordan waters it. The name of is alfo given to the land of

Canaan, which ended along the Mediterranean; the

chief cities of which are, Gaza, Afcalon, Azotus, Accaron and Gath.

2. Phenicia, whofe cities are, Ptolemais, Tyre, Sidon, and Berytus. Its mountains, Libanus and Antilibanus.

3. Syria.

3. Syria, properly fo called, or Antiochena; the cities whereof are, Antiochia, Apamia, Laodicea, and Seleucia.

4. Comagena. The city of Samofata.

5. Coelofyria. The cities are, Zeugma, Thapfacus, Palmyra, and Damascus.

V. Arabia Petraa. Its cities are, Petra, and Boftra. Mount Cafius. Deferta. Fælix.

Of Religion.

It is obfervable that in all ages and regions the feveral nations of the world, however various and oppofite in their characters, inclinations, and manners, have always united in one effential point; the inherent opinion of an adoration due to a fupreme being, and of external methods neceffary to evidence fuch a belief. Into whatever country we caft our eyes, we find priefs, altars, facrifices, feftivals, religious ceremonies, temples, or places confecrated to religious worship. In every people we discover a reverence and awe of the divinity;' and homage and honour paid to him; and an open profeffion of an entire dependence upon him in all their undertakings and neceffities, in all their adverfities and dangers. Incapable of themselves to penetrate futurity, and to ascertain events in their own favour, we find them intent upon confulting the divinity by oracles, and by other methods of a like nature; and to merit his protection by prayers, vows and offerings. It is by the fame fupreme authority they believe the moft folemn treaties are rendered inviolable. It is it that gives fanction to their oaths; and to that by imprecations is referred the punishment of fuch crimes and enormities as efcape the knowledge and power of men. On their private occafions, voyages, journeys, marriages, difeafes, the divinity is ftill invoked. With him their very repaft begins and ends. No war is declared, no battle fought, no enterprise formed, without his aid being first implored;