Of the Sons of Ham:--_Cush_, the eldest, was the father of Nimrod, the founder of the Babylonian and Assyrian families: the second son, _Mizraim_, was the founder of the Egyptian empire,--thence the ancient name of Mizraim being applied to that country.--_Phut_, the third son, _apparently_ died without issue,--at least there is no scriptural record of his descendants; but, as this would be very improbable in that early date, immediately following the Deluge,--we will venture the suggestion, whether the third Son was not the founder of the great African family--known as Negroes; for this is the only race not defined (apparently) by Moses,--and Phut is the only child of the "accursed" branch of Noah's "house," whose descendants are not mentioned. _Canaan_--the fourth and youngest son--was the founder of the Canaanites. Canaan had eleven children, all of whom (except one) established Nations known under one general name--Canaanites:--who, as a people were subsequently conquered, and their lands possessed by Moses, Joshua, and the Israelites. The _first Child of Canaan_, however, was not included with his brethren in founding the Canaanitish family. "And Canaan begat SIDON, his firstborn." [Genesis x. 15.] From that "firstborn" of Canaan sprung the great Phœnician family:--for upon the authority of Justin, an earthquake compelled a _portion_ of the family of Canaan to leave the country they had first settled in, and they took up their residence upon the border of the Assyrian Lake:--but which they afterwards vacated, and journeyed to the Sea-coast, [2178 B.C.] where the leader of that portion,--viz., _Sidon_,--built a city bearing his name, and he thus became the founder of the great maritime Nations of the Mediterranean; and being divided from their brethren, the Sidonians became a separate and independent people. 1689 B.C.] In the deathbed blessing of JACOB upon Zebulun, the country of Sidon is mentioned. [Genesis xlix. 13.] "Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships: and his border shall be unto _Sidon_." 1451 B.C.] MOSES wrote of them as a Nation in more than one instance.-- "And the border of the Canaanites was from SIDON, as thou comest to Gerar unto Gaza." [Genesis x. 19.] "--* * * from the river of Arnon unto Mount Hermon, (which Hermon the _Sidonians_ call Sirion; and the Amorites [Canaanites] call it Shenir)." [Deut. iii. 8,9.] In the last quotation the Sidonians are distinctly stated to be a separate nation from the other branches of the Canaanites. 1444 B. C.] JOSHUA, also, defines them to be so, and a powerful one. "And the LORD delivered them [the Canaanites] into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them _unto great_ SIDON," &c. [Joshua xi. 8.]