The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2) — John Shaqi
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)Beloe, William
General
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)
Beloe, William
Authors, English; Beloe, William, 1756-1817; English literature -- Anecdotes
Indiscriminate praise is of no value, but the sense of this noble Lord’s
merits as a traveller, arises from the consideration of his engaging
in such a service, at a time of life when young men of rank, think of
little but their pleasures. It arises, moreover, from his attention to
the manners of the nations which he visited, and from the judgment of the
plan, which he executed with so much ardour and perseverance.
The survey of the western coast of the Red Sea, was a grand desideratum
in geography, where nothing essential had been done since the voyage of
De Castro. It is not a speculation of curiosity, but a duty incumbent
upon a nation, possessed of the greatest maritime power that ever
existed, to explore every region, where the sea is navigable, and this
not only in a commercial view, but for the extension of science.
Lord ⸺’s coarse from the straits of Babulmandeb, up to Salaka, is a
survey, not only of importance to navigation and science, but of great
utility in shewing that there are means of approaching the most
barbarous inhabitants of the coast.
Many of the observations which are introduced upon the coast, above and
upon the country of Adel, are the best illustrations possible in regard
to ancient geography. They must have been peculiarly gratifying to the
very learned Dr. Vincent, as they coincide with the nature, both of the
natives and the countries which his pen had delineated from ancient
authority.
The trade and caravans of Adel, the intercourse of that country with
Arabia and Adooli, the western entrance of the Straits, the Opsian Bay,
the Bay of Adooli, the regal government of Axuma, the double sovereignty
of Suakin, the independent Bedoweens, above the Tahama, or Tessiborike,
the site of Berenice, in Foul Bay, the existence of the gold mines, and
the evidence of gold, still obtainable on the coast, all prove, whatever
may have been the revolution of governments, or the changes effected by
the lapse of time, that the general features are still indelible, and the
portrait true.
The bay to which the noble traveller has given the fantastic appellation
of “Botherem Bay,” with all its intricacies, shoals, and islands, will be
found perfectly consistent with both Agatharchides and Diodorus.
The Axumite inscription proves incontestibly the prevalence of the Greek
language in Abyssinia. The fact undoubtedly was, that as soon as Adooli
became a mart, approachable by the Greeks from Egypt, Greeks established
themselves there as residents. Thus they had formerly done all around the
Euxine, from the time of Herodotus, to the time when it was visited by
Arrian, in the reign of Adrian.
Greeks of this sort were not only merchants, but became ministers, or
agents for the native Sovereigns, such as Xenophon found in the time of
Scuthes, and by such a Greek, the inscription was doubtless drawn up for
Aeizaneus.
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