I have before defcribed the manner in which the Babylonian women prostituted themselves to strangers at the temple of Mylitta; as likewise the fame cuftom prevailing among the Phoenicians, whose women, for this end, repaired to the great temple of Aftarte, at Byblus. I have now to add, that the fame things, in all refpects, was practifed at Carthage; excepting that the money got by this infamous commerce among the Babylonians and Phoenicians, was prefented to Mylitta or Aftarte, id eft Venus; whereas the Carthaginian women applied the wages of prostitution to their own ufe. This indeed favoured fomething more of the common harlot than the other; but all these nations were arrived at fuch an height of infatuation and impiety, on account of their gross idolatry, and variety of pollutions attending it, that it is hard to fay which of them was the worst. Canaan's pofterity were a most profligate and abandoned race of men, addicted to all, even the moft unnatural kinds of luft, as the Scripture tells us. Now it is worthy admiration, that Noah curfed Cana

an

an only of Ham's fons,* on account of Ham's breach of modefty, in exposing his father's nakednefs, which was both unchafte and unnatural. This is a ftrong intimation, that Canaan only was an accomplice of his father Ham in this wickednefs: which was an evident token of a moft diffolute and vicious turn of mind. This vile difpofition exerted itself in Canaans pofterity, and vastly contributed towards drawing down those heavy divine judgments, which in process of time fell upon them. Hence it appears, that in conformity to the patriarch's prediction, Canaan's defcendants were fubject to the pofterity of Shem (id eft) the Hebrews; and that this was, in a great measure, occafioned by the effects of that vile difpofition, inherent in them, which fo eminently displayed itself in Ham, and, as is probable, in Canaan alfo. So true is that obfervation of the royal Pfalmift-Righteous art thou, O Lord, and just are thy judgments.+

• Genefis, chap. xi. ver. 22. 25, 26, 27. † Pfalm exix. ver. 137.

No. XXXII.

The Religion of the Numidians.

As the first Numidians, in common with all the other Indigenæ, of that vaft tract between the borders of Egypt and the Atlantic ocean, were called Libyans we may infer from Herodotus, that the principal gods they facrificed to were the fun and moon. This is a convincing proof of their high antiquity, as clearly evincing, that the migration of the first colony, which peopled this country, preceded the introduction of image worship into the Pagan world. It is likewise an argument, that this colony did not confist of Perfians, fince the fun only was their principal deity. Some of the Numidians also, might probably worship Triton, Minerva,

and

and Neptune, especially those near the confines of Africa Propria, as the fame author seems to fuggeft. That part of this nation, subject to Carthage, it is reasonable to prefume paid divine honours to the Phoenician and Greek deities, that were the objects of the Carthaginian worship (of which I have already given fo full and ample an account). appears from Herodotus, that Hepheftus, or Vulcan, was an Egyptian deity, worshipped at Memphis; but whether or no, the Numidians held him in any veneration, or indeed had any knowledge of him, I must leave the learned to decide.*

It

No. XXXIII.

The Religion of the Mauritanians.

MAURITANIA and Maurufia are names of this region, derived from the Mauri, an ancient people inhabiting it, frequently mentioned by the old hiftorians and geographers, With respect to their religion, Neptune seems to have been one of the principal objects of adoration in this country; which is a fufficient proof that the Naphthuhim or Nephthuhim of Mofes, extended themselves into it; though the first seat of that people might probably, as Bochart and Arius Montanus imagine, have been in Marmarica and Cyrenaiaca. This deity and his wife Neptys might receive their names from hence, Nep