city Naruan there are mountains called Masis, upon which they say that the Ark of Moses rested. There are two of these mountains, the one greater than the other, and the Araxes runneth at the foot of them. There is also a little town Cemainum, which is by interpretation eight; for they say it was so called from the eight persons who came out of the Ark, and built it. This is plain from the name; for Cemainum signifies eight. They call the mountain the mother of the world. From hence we may perceive, that what this writer renders Cemainum, should rather have been expressed Shemainum, or Shemanum; for it is undoubtedly the same as the Themanim and Thamanim of Elmacini and others, and analogous to the, Shaman of the Hebrews. The town of the Thamanim, or Shamanim, was so called from those eight primæval persons who were said to have founded it. There is reason to think, that it was the same as Naxuan, a very antient city, which is mentioned by Ptolemy, and placed upon the Araxes. The editor of Moses Chorenensis has some curious observations upon the history of this place. 35 This town, which seems to be the

map of D'Anville, it is expressed Nactshevan; and is situated upon the river, at a small distance from Mount Ararat.

35 L. 1. c. 29. p. 71.

Naxuana of Ptolemy, is close upon the plain of Araratia; and held in great regard by the Armenians, who give out, that it is the most antient place in the world, and built immediately after the Deluge by Noah. Galanus, a Roman Presbyter, who wrote an account of the Armenian Church being reconciled to the Church of Rome, tells us, that, according to the natives, the true name is Nachidshevan. By this, they say, is signified THE FIRST PLACE OF DESCENT. Hence there can be no doubt, but this is that place in Armenia, of which Josephus takes notice, and says, that by the natives it was called arobaτngiov, or the place of 37 descent. In the map of D'Anville it is expressed 38 Nactshevan; and placed at the distance of a few miles to the east of Mount Ararat, in the true region of Har-Men, or Armenia, which retains its name to this day.

36

I have mentioned, that the same names have been given to different places where the Arkite rites were instituted, under the titles of Baris, Meen, and Selene. Hence the same event was supposed to have happened in different places,

36

I believe that the name related to the history of the Patriarch; but whether the etymology is precisely true, I question. 37 Josephus. Ant. 1. 1. c. 3. p. 16.

38 They have a tradition that Noah died here. See Tavernier. 1. 1. c. 4. p. 16.

and the like history has been recorded. Mount Taurus extended a great way eastward of Armenia; and one part of it, in the province of Adarbayn, in Persia, is still called Al Baris, similar to the name by which Ararat was of old distinguished. 39 Sir Thomas Herbert travelled this way in 1626; and he mentions one peak near the city Tauris remarkably high, which he with great reason imagines to have been one of those where stood the Iäsonea, mentioned by Strabo. This hill was called 4° Da Moan; and the town at the foot of it had the same name. By this, according to the natives, is signified a second plantation. But Mon and Moan was the name of the Arkite type, as I have abundantly shewn and Da was the antient Chaldaic particle analagous to the in our language. Da Maon related to the Arkite Moon: and the history of the place still evidences the fact; for they have an antient tradition, that the Ark was driven to this mountain.

39 He calls the ridge of Taurus El Bors, p. 197. This is a variation of El Baris. Taurus is expressed by the natives Tabaris; from whence we may infer, that the former term is only a contraction of the latter; and that from Tabaris and Tavaris came the names of Tauris and Taurus, both the city and mountain. Har Ta-Baris is the mountain of the Ark:

"They spare not to aver, says the author, from a tradition, that upon this mountain of Damoan the Ark rested. Hard by is a village named Morante, where they suppose the wife of 43 Noah to have died. I mention these accounts, however inaccurately transmitted, to shew how universal the history was of that great event, of which I have been treating. The scene of action was attributed to different places; but the real appulse of the ark was upon the mountain of Arat, called Ar-arat, in the province of Har-Men, upon the river Arach, or Araxes.

44

After the sacred writer has described the preservation of Noah and his family, and their descent from the Ark, he gives a short history of the Patriarch, and mentions his residence upon the spot, and his planting of the vine. He afterwards proceeds to shew how the reparation of mankind was effected in that family, and how they multiplied upon the earth. When they were greatly increased, he gives a list of their genera tions, and describes them with great accuracy upon their separating, according to their places of destination: and concludes with telling us,

42 Herbert's Travels. p. 201. The mountain Da Moan signifies Mons Lunus, or Lunaris.

45 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. And again, These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations; and by these were the nations divided in the earth, after the flood. I have spoken upon this subject in a former 47 treatise; and have shewn that this distribution was by the immediate appointment of God. We have full evidence of this in that sublime and pathetic hymn of Moses, where he addresses himself to the people whom he had so long conducted, and was now going to leave for ever. 48 Remember, says he, the days of old; consider the years of many generations. Ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance; when he separated the sons of Adam; he set the bounds of the people, according to the number of the children of Israel: for the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. By this we may see, that the whole was by God's appointment; and that there was a re

-45-Genesis. c. 10. v. 5.

46 Ibid. c. 10. v. 32.

47 Observations and Inquiries relating to various parts of Artient History, vol. vi. p. 285.

48 Deuteron. c. 32. v. 7.