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the Barbarians a spear." As the Scythians refined, by becoming stationary in Persia, one may suppose that the blood of brute animals was substituted for human blood 3.

Strabo absolutely calls the Parthians, Scythians, in his account of the origin of the city of Ctesiphon, page 743; and, in fact, most of the ancient historians regard the Parthians as descendants of Scythians; that is, of Massageta. And there is no doubt but that the resemblance of character between the Massagetan race, and the Scythians of the Euxine, led them to regard both as being of the same stock 1.

Justin, who seems to have known no other Scythians than those of the Euxine, to whom he refers whatsoever regards the Scythians at large, assigns to them a high degree of antiquity: for he makes them more ancient than even the Egyptians. His argument to prove it, is very curious. He says, that the Scythians inhabited an elevated tract, which was therefore fit for the reception of men, at an earlier period than Egypt, which had been covered with water; lib. i. c. 1. But although much the same idea of the early state of Egypt was entertained by

The above modes are represented as permanent customs in the above countries. But we find it practised occasionally, and in a more horrible manner, in Egypt, Thalia, 11: and by Catiline, as is told by Sallust.

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In Melpom. 65, it appears that the Western Scythians (our ancestors probably,) decided certain of their differences by combat, in presence of the king. This agrees exactly with one of our ancient customs: but we are daily getting rid of our Scythian habits.

Herodotus, yet he supposes, with much reason, Euterpe, 15, that this circumstance does not make any alteration in the case, as the Egyptians would have migrated lower and lower down, as the newly formed land became habitable; wherefore the inhabitants of Lower Egypt would have been drawn from Upper Egypt, (or Thebes,) and Ethiopia. And according to him, the Scythians themselves did not pretend to antiquity; since they affirmed that their country was, of all others, the last peopled. Melpom. 5.

Few tracts could be better suited to a pastoral life than the seats of the Euxine Scythians, (the Ukraine and its neighbourhood ;) in which particular they had greatly the advantage of the Eastern Scythians. The soil was rich, and abundantly watered; and the grass, as Herodotus observes, Melp. 58, "is, of all that we know, the fullest of moisture, which evidently appears from the dissection of their cattle "."

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5 His idea, Euterpe, 4, et. seq. being, that all the tract below the lake of Maris, which is at the distance of seven days' journey from the sea, had been formed by the mud of the Nile; and was no better than a marsh in the reign of Menes. See also his reasoning, in chapters 10 to 13.

Bell speaks of the fertility of the soil, and rich pasturage of the Ukraine. He also says that there are good horses; and large black cattle, which afford as good beef as any in the world. (Journey from Moscow to Constantinople.)

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Mr. Bell has (in the same journey,) a curious remark respecting the nature of the river banks, in the line between Moscow, and Ismael, on the Danube. By what I could observe, (says he) all the great rivers, from the Wolga to this place, have for the most part high lands for their western

They possessed the greatest abundance of provisions, 59, and were of course very populous, 81; but were generally destitute of wood, 61. They held in abhorrence foreign customs, 76; and like most of the eastern nations, kept no swine; 63. Like other Nomadic nations, they were impatient of dependance, and possessed a great share of courage. Having no towns, and few cultivated fields, they could never be conquered. Our Author regarded Scythia, as a country exempt from the character of absolute barbarism, although surrounded by nations the most barbarous; and says, "Even of the Scythians I cannot in general speak with extraordinary commendation." Melpom. 46. Melpom. 46. He has recorded their barbarous sacrifices to their deities, and at their funerals; their practice of scalping, (which more than any other circumstance, has fixed the character of barbarism on the American Indians ;) their horrid custom of drinking the blood of enemies, and making drinking vessels of their skulls. If these are not the acts of Barbarians, what are to be deemed such $?

Notwithstanding some ambiguities, and apparent contradictions, in the geography of Scythia, Herodotus had certainly paid uncommon attention to the

banks, and low flat ones to the eastward." It should be remarked that his track lay very far inland, and consequently very wide of Baron Tott's.

See Melpomene, 60, 64, 65, and 72.

Our Author says, Melp. 46, that amongst the Scythians and the bordering nations, there has been found no individual of superior learning and accomplishments, save Anacharsis the Scythian. See more of him in Melpom. 76 and 77.

subject; and by the solemnity of his declaration, at setting out, we may suppose that he meant to be very impressive: for after saying, Melp. 16, that Aristeas had gone no farther than to the country of the Issedones, he adds, "For my own part, all the intelligence which the most assiduous researches, and the greatest attention to authenticity, have been able to procure, shall be faithfully related." And perhaps it has seldom happened, that a traveller who collected his information concerning the geography of so extensive a tract, in so casual a way, has produced a description in which so many circumstances have been found to agree 9.

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Scythia, together with the nations bordering on it, and which are included in our Author's description, comprised about half of the length of Europe, in the line between the Tanais and the Bay of Biscay.

SECTION V.

OF THE COUNTRIES BORDERING ON WESTERN SCYTHIA.

Relative positions of the nations bordering on the west and north of Scythia-The Melanchlani, Androphagi, Neuri, and Agathyrsi-their general character-Positions of the tribes on the north-east and east of Scythia-Sauromatæ, or SarmatiansAmazons-Budini, Geloni, and Thyssagete - The river Oarus taken for the Rha, or Wolga-Particulars relating to the Eastern tribes-Forests of the Budini, answer to those of Woronez-the CZAR PETER builds fleets there, and in the Tanais-Taurica, or Krimea-its Isthmus shut up, from the earliest times—The ancient Tauri highly barbarous; and subsisted chiefly on the plunder of wrecks.

HAVING, by the above statement, shewn the general form, position, and extent of WESTERN SCYTHIA, both as it was in reality, and as our Author supposed it to be, we shall next proceed to state, from his descriptions, the positions of the countries said to border on it; which process, by determining the limits of Scythia itself, will also prove our former statement of them.

"As you advance from the Danube, inland," says Herodotus, Melp. 100, "Scythia is terminated first by the AGATHYRSI, then by the NEURI, thirdly by the ANDROPHAGI, and last of all, by the MELANCHLENI:" none of which, as he observes in other places, are

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