Page images
PDF
EPUB

inhabitants of the northern diftrict were anciently called Cuthæi. We find again Raamah, the fourth fon of that Cufh, in the Indian Rama, renowned firft as a conqueror, and afterwards as a god, throughout the whole extent of that vaft region; and we difcover his laft fon Nimrod, or Belus, in their Bali, the Baal and Bel of their neighbours. A very great variety of fimilar inftances, not only in the way of ftriking etymological deduction, but of direct identity in perfon and character, between the ancient heroes of these respective nations, will hereafter be noticed by me, if not in these pages, at least in the greater hiftorical work, which these various Differtations are intended to illuftrate.

At prefent, let us return to Britain, and confine our inquiry to the ancient name of these islands, a fubject concerning which two very celebrated writers, Camden and Bochart, have advanced very oppofite opinions. Oppofite, however, as thefe opinions apparently are, they may both have for their fupport a certain degree of truth.

Camden contends, that Britain was fo called from brith, a Celtic word, fignifying painted; and tain, or tan, a region. If Camden be right in the former part of this affertion, in the

preceding

preceding volumes of the Indian Antiquities, fufficient evidence may be found that he is fo as to the latter part of it. In the first, or geographical, Differtation, in particular, I had occafion to remark, that, in Perfian, iftan, or ftan, was the name of a land, or region, as, for inftance, in Chuzistan, the region of Cufh; in Hindoftan, the region of the Hindoos; in Multan, or Mallitan, a province on the Indus, and meaning the country anciently poffeffed by the Malli. This term, therefore, of Perfian original, was brought by the Celtic colonies into thefe western regions, and thus Britain, according to this writer, is the country of the Brith, or painted people, from which circumftance, probably, in fucceeding times, the fame nation came to be denominated by the Romans, who tranflated the term, Picti, the Picts, or painted people.—The learned Bochart, however, whofe ftudies were directed to the investigation of Phoenician Antiquities, with great ingenuity, and very confiftently with the hypothefis laid down in his Phaleg, derives the name Britain from Baratanac, the land of tin; and as that was a commodity for which these islands were celebrated in the Afiatic world, it is by no means improbable, that the Phoenicians, who traded

to

1

to this part of the world to obtain it, knew the island by that name. The Greeks afterwards, treading in the commercial fteps of that induftrious and adventurous race, called it after them BeeTavin, whence Britain. It is natural to suppose that the production for which an island was famous fhould give its name to the country that produced it, especially among a nation devoted to commerce, and who probably knew nothing of the people, or the island beyond the coaft where the mines were wrought, or the provinces immediately adjoining. The Romans, whose aim in failing hither was conqueft rather than commerce, principally attended to the people, and imposed a name fomewhat conformable to their national habits, and adapted to dif play their ruling propenfity.

SECTION II.

One great Tribe of the ancient Indian Nation, being the immediate Progeny of Cufh, was called Cuthai, and their Defcendants brought into Britain the Cuthite Superftitions.--A brief Summary of thofe Superftitions as anciently practifed in the British ifles.-Thofe Superftitions exhibit many evident remains of the pure patriarchal Theology, blended with the Corruptions of the Sabian Idolatry.-A more particular Account of the Indian God Buddha, the Hermes of Egypt, and the Mercury of the Weft.-The Affyrian and Indian Belus the true Hercules of Antiquity, and the God Belen of the Druids proved to be fo by their BEALTINE, or Fires lighted in Honour of Baal.— Various Eastern characteristic Designations and Symbols of Mercury, difcovered in Britain.

The

The Woden's Day, or Dies Mercurii, of the Northern and Western Nations, the Dies Boodh of India.-Cubical Statues and Mercurial Heaps.-The letter THAU.-The Harp of the Druids.-The Lyre of Hermes, &c. &c. -The FIRST OF APRIL, an ancient Indian Feftival. The FIRST OF MAY, or the Day on which the Sun enters the Bull, an ancient Phallic Festival immemorially preferved in the Eaft.-Relics of thefe Feftivals, and the Sports practifed on them, ftill preferved in Britain. An extenfive Parallel drawn between the religious Rites and civil Customs anciently prevalent in India, Britain, and the Northern Empires of Europe.

A'

FTER the general introductory remarks in the preceding fection, connected with etymology and hiftory, we are now about to enter on the investigation of more important points, and to confider THE REMAINS OF THE CUTHITE, OR ANCIENT INDIAN, WORSHIP IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

I have before obferved, that a part of the Indian nation were anciently called Cuthæi, a

name

« PreviousContinue »