Writers on subjects of this nature have inferred that in the earliest stage of society the human species subsisted on the spontaneous fruits of the earth or by the chase; the Pastoral state was the next step, and the adoption of agricultural pursuits the last stage in the progress. The Celtic and other European languages furnish very distinct evidence that some of the European nations must have advanced as far as the Pastoral state previously to their migration from the East.
The art of making “Butter” is expressed in the Celtic by a word of which the Oriental origin is clear:
Im,[100] “Butter,” (Gaelic.)
c'H.m.a.e, “Butter,” from c'H.m.a, “To agitate, to churn,” (Hebrew.)
As this Celtic word is quite unlike the Latin, its Oriental origin is clear. It also follows that the primitive art it describes could not have been borrowed from the Romans.
The evidence with regard to “Cheese” is doubtful. Caseus (Latin) may be viewed as allied to K.sh.e, “To harden, to stiffen,” (Hebrew.) But as the Hebrew does not present the secondary sense, there is no ground to infer that this art was brought from the east. Nor, considering the resemblance of the Latin Caseus and the Welsh Caws, “Cheese,” can we infer from language, as in the instance of “Butter,” that the Celts did not borrow this process from the Romans, which most probably they did.
The following is a comparison, showing at the same time the identity of the names for some of the most common animals in the Hebrew and the Indo-European languages, and also the interesting fact, which is evident from several of these examples, that many of the prevalent European names for Chattels and Money are identical with Hebrew words for Cattle, Sheep, &c., which form the only wealth of the Pastoral state!
B.k.r, “Cattle,” (Heb.) Pecora, plural of Pec-us, “Cattle,” (Lat.) Hence, Pecunia, “Money,” (Lat.) Buwch, “A cow,” (Welsh.)
R.c.sh, “Cattle, Riches,” (Hebrew.) Reikis, “Riches,” (Gothic.) Riches (English.)
A.l.ph, singular. A.l.ph-eem, plural, “Cattle,” (Heb.) Alav, singular. Alav-oedd, plural, “Cattle, Wealth,” (Welsh.)