and the scholar has cause here to be very much upon his guard. The very useful dictionary for other purposes, compiled by Francis a Mesgnien Meninski, and republished by Bernhard von Jenisch, 1780-1802, in four volumes folio, is rendered less useful for etymological investigation, from the very circumstance of its strictly alphabetical arrangement; and besides, the Turkish and Persian are the principal objects in it.

But whilst these writers, and especially the Kamoos, are most invaluable and authentic sources for the knowledge of the existing idiom, yet the scholar must not seek with the same confidence in them for etymological research, for remarks upon the primitive significations of words, and the like. For these objects the Arabic Scholiasts on difficult writers, as on Hariri and the Moallakat, are much more fruitful sources; and A. Schultens especially deserves great praise for his labour in working up and developing this rich mine, although he may have here and there gone too far in his etymological conjectures. Many etymologies of Schultens' school, with a cautious separation of what is conjecture and what is fact, are found in Willmet's Arabic Lexicon; in which at the same time special reference is had to certain Arabic writers.

The personal and continued perusal of Arabic writers will be indispensable to the truly learned interpreter of the Old Testament; and will always be to him a rich source of parallels and comparisons for language in the broadest sense of the word, as also for ideas, poetical figures, &c. But still the helps afforded by lexicons which are extant, will suffice for him who knows how to employ them; and will enable him to determine almost every where the proper usus loquendi, and to detect the errors which have found their way into many philological works, partly through careless use and misunderstanding of the lexicons, and partly through the mistakes which have crept into the most common of the lexicons themselves.

Before starting with his observations relative to the Arabic language, Gesenius states that the Ethiopic is an early branch of it; and that of both these again, there are later corrupted dialects; viz. of the former the Moorish and Maltese dialects, and of the latter the Amharic. In an after part of the dissertation he, in accordance with this statement, says that, in a language so copious and so widely extended as the Arabic, it could not well be expected that there should not be a great variety of dialectical differences; and that in fact we find that many a dialectical idiom of this sort corresponds more nearly to the Hebrew, than the common Arabic language of books. This is particularly the case with the so called Vulgar Arabic; which indeed much more resembles the Hebrew, both in a grammatical respect by its fewer and shorter forms, and also in its far less degree of copiousness. Even the still remoter dialects of the Moors and of the natives of Morocco and Malta,

contain many peculiarities, which connect themselves back with the most ancient idioms; just as it is often the case, that the same phenomena of language repeat themselves unexpectedly, in the remotest periods and districts of the same people.

In the Ethiopic language, we possess a very remarkable relic of the Hamyaric, or dialect of southern Arabia, which since the time of Mahommed, has been wholly supplanted by the present written Arabic; the Ethiopic people having been, as is well known, a colony from southern Arabia, which wandered across the Red Sea. Its peculiar written character also seems to be of Arabian origin, and to have been primitively the same with that of the ancient Hamyaric. The language accords in general, indeed, most nearly with the Arabic, but it is less rich and cultivated; and has quite a number of words in common with the Hebrew, which are not found in the Arabic. The literature is exclusively of an historical and ecclesiastical kind; but of the not unimportant historical writings, nothing has as yet appeared in print. The date of these writings falls between the introduction of Christianity into Ethiopia under Constantine the Great, and the fourteenth century; when this language, by a revolution in the government, was supplanted by the Amharic, which is still spoken in Abyssinia, while the Geez dialect is employed only as a written language for every species of written works or documents. The Ethiopic, both in respect of grammars and lexicons, has been handled with uncommon skill and learning by J. Ludolf; whose Grammar and Lexicon, in the second editions of them, are among the best philological works connected with the Shemitish languages. In the composition of both, he made use of many manuscripts, and also enjoyed the oral instruction of Abba Gregorius, a learned Abyssinian priest.

The present spoken language of Abyssinia, the Amharic, is poor in words and in grammatical forms; and is more interesting for the Hebrew scholar in a grammatical respect, than as supplying a vocabulary for lexicons. At least I am aware, Gesenius says, in concluding his observation on Hebrew lexicography, and its kinship with the Arabic language, of almost no coincidences which the Amharic has with the Hebrew, which do not already exist in the Ethiopic.

Freytag's lexicon has been published since Gesenius wrote the dissertation from which we have been quoting. The announcement of Freytag's plan led the learned to expect no more than a reimpression of Golius. For this they waited long; and when it was told, that the work was to be entirely original, they cheerfully waited longer still. This interest in the work, caused by a growing desire to cultivate the language and literature of that Arab race, whose history, and whose position among the nations of the earth, are almost as peculiar and mysterious as those of the outcasts of Israel,

whose dwelling is every where, and whose home is nowhere, was highly favourable to its reception. It gave to the author the power of realizing the most brilliant dream of a German mind, in making an epoch of his age. How he has used his opportunity, how he has met the wants and expectations of his compeers and his followers in Oriental learning, can now be decided; for the work has been long enough before the public to admit of its being not only examined, but used.

His lexicon is not, as it was first announced, a recension of Golius, but an original work, so that it must enter the lists of comparison with this time-honoured father of Arabic literature in Europe. Freytag's advantages certainly were greater since his work is founded on both the native standard lexicons already mentioned, viz. those of Djauhari and Firuzabadi. These are the two great pillars on which he has reared the structure of his lexicon. But, it is maintained by scholars, that the only merit, which he can claim over Golius and Giggeius, arises from a more accurate reading of the text, a truer translation, and a solution of some difficulties, by comparing them together. His Latin seems often to be carefully indefinite when he is translating words that he never saw except in the native lexicons. Indeed, a translated dictionary must always be a feeble and hazy light to a linguist.

In short, Freytag's merits and demerits lie in little matters; and he, who, by composing a lexicon from original reading, is to make for Europe an epoch in Arabic literature, is yet to appear.

No lexicon deserves patronage, which will not suffice for the perusal of a number not only of printed classical Arabic works to which access may be obtained, but also of those manuscripts which are now in public libraries, or in private collections, promising from their value ere long to be published, in obedience to the wants of the age. A new Arabic lexicographer must explore all these, whether they be already in print or not in print. The study of them demand not only a lexicon, but the very best lexicon; and whoever offers one must expect it to be judged by its adaptation to the present wants. Arabic literature ought now to be, as it soon will be, made accessible to English scholars. Perhaps a taste for it must first be fostered as it was for that of the Greeks and Latins, by translations of interesting and important works. The "Oriental Translation Fund," instituted in 1828, for the purpose of publishing oriental manuscripts, has already done something towards the required and the interesting end. But much more will be and ought to be accomplished. New translations and lexicons will reciprocate their influences; so that at length, not only will the demand for them progressively enlarge, but the supply will, as in other things, keep pretty nearly up with the demand.

202

ART. VI. A Journal of a Residence in the Esmailla of Abd-el-Kader, and of Travels in Morocco and Algiers. By COLONEL SCOTT, K.S.F., K.C. Whittaker.

A SOLDIER perhaps we best describe the book when we say a soldier of fortune-has written this work; for it has the manner as well as the incidents which such a character would be likely to place before the reader. Colonel Scott was an officer in the Spanish service during the recent civil war, and when it came to a close he seems to have given a distinct expression to his politico-military principles by enlisting himself under the banners of Abd-el-Kader, for whom he entertains a high regard; a personage of the name of Noel Mannucci having contagiously operated towards this result of feeling and of action. But this step was not taken without certain misgivings in relation to the Foreign Enlistment Act, however much the Colonel might be inclined to fight the French on the coast of Barbary, or any other coast, he having a terrible horror of "despotism" anywhere. Still, surmounting these obstacles, he went with an adventurous spirit to work, and half-soldierly, half-officially, became a not insignificant character, as we gather from his Travels, in the quarrels between our Gallic friends and the invaded people of Algiers and Morocco, among whom he figured for some ten or eleven months in 1841.

Colonel Scott has not all the requisites of a traveller. He appears neither to have had time nor taste for antiquities, or any other subject of literary pursuit. But his book is not destitute of merit, nor of an informing character; for what it speaks about it does plainly and sensibly, affecting neither to say more than it has a right to do, nor telling anything in a manner unbefitting a gentleman "of arms." There is besides an interest attached to the subject not dissimilar to that which accompanies the British position in Afghanistan; and therefore we copy rather lavishly from the pages, were it merely on the principle of parallelism with what we have exhibited about China. Accordingly we go to work, commencing with natural history:

I had often heard of lions being numerous in this part of Africa, but had never seen any till to-night, when I saw two of them, by moonlight, at a short distance from the government building. I called Hadgi Mahomet, and pointing them out to him, he laughed, saying in broken Spanish, that there were more lions here than sheep; in fact, from the frequent roarings which we heard of these nocturnal visitors, he appeared to be borne out in his statement. It appears that Abd-el-Kader, like Araounal-Raschid in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, frequently goes about in disguise, in order to inform himself of the actual state of affairs; one night he came from the Esmailla to Tegedempt alone, to ascertain the

correctness of a report which had been made, that it was unsafe to be in the streets after nightfall. He remained walking about the town till near midnight; on his return he had to pass the brook of Tegedempt, and it being the hour of prayer, he halted to perform his devotions, and was washing his feet in the stream, when a huge lion made his "handsome bow before him," doubtless having just dropped in, like Paul Pry, to make a call. The Sultan met the lion's stare, and with a frown, calling him a Kilb-ben-el-Kilb, for intruding upon him at so unseasonable an hour, bade him begone for a Kaffer; strange to say, the lord of the forest cowed his head before the defender of the faithful, and, turning tail, walked off. By the Arabs this was considered as a miracle wrought by the prophet in favour of his protégé Abd-el-Kader, who is frequently styled by his subjects "the beloved of Mahomet." I should, however, be more inclined to place this circumstance to the generosity of this noble animal, who seldom attacks the human species unless driven so to do by extreme hunger. The Arabs say that the females of their tribes, if a lion makes his appearance at their tents, have only to show him their breasts, when he invariably hangs down his head and walks away. Although a traveller, and used to strange stories, I did not exactly give credit to this assertion.

Variety :

In consequence of to-day being so great a festival, there was nothing to be heard but the firing of muskets in all directions; and frequently the Arabs were to be seen amusing themselves by pointing their muskets at the Jews, who did not much relish this part of the diversion, as a stray musket might chance to be loaded with ball. There is not much trade carried on here at present, the products of the country, such as camel's hair, wax, and wool, not affording a sufficient profit to convey overland to Tangiers or Tetuan; that is, in the opinion of the Moorish trader, who is content with nothing less than cent per cent, and the Jews here are none of them sufficiently opulent or enterprizing to undertake any trade of consequence. The wool of Algiers is of various quality. Towards Constantina it is much finer than in the western provinces; but so little attention is paid to the breeding of their flocks by the Arabs, that all qualities of wool are to be met with in the same tribe, some of which in England would bring 28. 8d. per pound, whilst others would not be worth more than 8d. However, still an immense profit is to be made on it, as a fleece is to be had here at from 4d. to 6d., weighing from two to four pounds, according to the fineness of the wool; and if it be wether or ewe wool, the former is always much more weighty than the latter. The duty on shipping wool in Morocco is five dollars per cwt., which, added to the expense of landcarriage for four hundred miles, brings it to about 4d. per pound at Tetuan. Wax is to be procured here at about fifteen dollars per cwt. The Cashmere goat might be introduced into this country with every advantage, the climate from hence to the Taafna being peculiarly adapted for that animal. The common goat is sold here at about 2s. per head, full grown; and as there exists the most extraordinary circumstance in breeding this most valuable stock, viz., that in three crosses of the Cashmere buck with the common female, the wool or down becomes the same as that of the pure