[148] Klaproth speaks of the “cardinal” points, not apprehending the value of the term. In Meredith the “four points” are given in Chinese, so also Cut-Leet (Cutlet).
[149] “Those who have not been in India cannot know how all-important the division of everything into sixteen parts is, or some multiple or sub-multiple of that number: not only is the money of the country so divided, and all the weights and measures, but all property is divided into annas (sixteenths): in conversation it is the usual expletive of quantity.”—Ferguson’s Hindostan, Intro., p. 12.
[150] The passage of Brunetto Latini (Lib. du Tresor, MSS. du Roi, No. 7609), is too well known to quote; but I subjoin a curious fragment of a letter, attributed to him, which was published in the “Monthly Review” of June, 1802. It appears to me to be of indubitable authenticity. He is describing the wonders shown him by Roger Bacon, who was a disciple of the Arabs, and had studied at Cordova, like Gerbert, Abelard, and all the distinguished men of the period:—“La magnete pierre laide et noire, ob el fer volontiers se joint, lon touche ob une aiguillet et en festue lon fischie (fix it on a piece of reed); puis lon mette en laigue (float it on the water) et se tient dessus, et la pointe se torne contre l’estoille: quand la nuit fut tenebrous, et lon ne voie estoille ni lune, poet li mariner tenir droite voie.”
“Acus ferrea, postquam adamantem contigerit, ad stellam septentrionalem, quæ, velut axis firmamenti, aliis vergentibus, non movetur, semper convertitur, unde valde necessarius est navigantibus in mari.”—Jac. de Vit. Histor. Hyerosolymit. c. 89, A.D. 1215.
[151] Univ. Hist. vol. xviii. p. 213. Müller’s Etrüsker, “On the Temple,” vol. iii. Niebuhr’s Rome, app. to vol. ii. p. 624.
[152] The name Cardaces among the Persians is said to be derived from “courage,” “virtue.” Such words are generally derived from the names of tribes whose qualities are thus conveyed.
[153] Thus, on the north coast of Africa, the south wind is called Giblu, the north wind Baharu, because the one blows from the mountains, the other from the sea.
[154] The Tasguments, Jonathan and Onkelos, say that the ark rested, the former on Kardon, the latter on Kardu.—Drummond’s Origines, vol. i. p. 69.
[155] Four thousand years ago the polar star was apud Draconis. See Herschell on the Entrance to the Pyramid of Gizeh, apud Vyse.
[156] P’hn does occur in the hieroglyphics as the name of a people, but who they are is not known. Sharu is the general name given to the Phœnicians or “Celequins,” as the Turks say to-day Shaerli, otherwise the name of the town is used. As Homer has it: “Speak of the fortress in the waters, Taru of the Sea is its name. Water is carried to it in boats. It has fishes for bread.” British Museum Papyrus, Pl. Lv.