SECTION XI.

OF THE TWENTY SATRAPIES OF DARIUS HYSTASPES, CONSIDERED GEOGRAPHICALLY, AND ALSO WITH A REFERENCE TO THE CATALOGUE OF THE ARMY OF XERXES.

The Persian empire contained most of the known part of Asia— Much geographical knowledge may be derived from the account of the Satrapies-Arrangement of this Dissertation-Asia Minor divided into four Satrapies; and arranged by the Persians, with a view to a concentration of its naval force-Lydia, and empire of Croesus-Gold of the Pactolus-Phrygia, anciently the great body of Asia Minor-Syrians of Cappadocia, or Leuco-syri-Troy and the Troade—Strength and importance of Cilicia, in a military view-Phoenicia and PalestineJERUSALEM, under the name of Cadytis-Monuments of the conquests of Sesostris-Jews intended, by the Syrians of Palestine. Herodotus ignorant of their history-Phoenician Letters and Commerce-Egypt, the conquest of Cambyses-Greatness of its tribute-Ethiopians present gold dust, ivory, and ebonyEgyptian force's sent to Xerxes consisted of ships; but the crews fought also on shore-Arabian auxiliaries-Desert between Egypt and Syria-Arrangement of Cambyses to procure water in his passage through it, to Egypt-Similar arrangement of Nadir Shah, in Persia.-Assyria included the countries in general, below Taurus-Babylonia-A proof of the veracity of our Author-Sensible custom respecting diseased persons— Nineveh Cissia, or Susiana-Susa-Disposal of the captive Eretrians and Boeotians, by the Persians-Agreement of sacred and profane history, in several instances-Media, a beau

tiful and extensive tract-Nisæan horses, and pastures-The term Median employed to express both Medians and Persians, collectively-Cities of Ecbatana and Rages.

Or that portion of ASIA known in detail to Herodotus, and, as may be supposed, to the Greeks in general of his day, the Persian empire under DARIUS HYSTASPES formed by far the greatest part. Accordingly, our Author's account of the distribution of the Persian empire into twenty Satrapies is particularly curious, and no less useful, as it points out the particulars, as well as the extent, of the geographical knowledge of the times. And although there are some errors in the description, as there must necessarily be, where the subject is so very extensive, yet it is, on the whole, so remarkably consistent, that one is surprised how the Greeks found means to acquire so much knowledge, respecting so distant a part. It is possible that we have been in the habit of doing them injustice, by allowing them a less degree of knowledge of the geography of Asia, down to the expedition of Alexander, than they really possessed: that is, we have, in some instances, ascribed to Alexander certain geographical discoveries, which perhaps were made long anterior to his expedition.

This arrangement of the SATRAPIES is not to be regarded as a mere list of names of countries; for, aided by the catalogue, and the description of the army of Xerxes, and some other notices, it furnishes us with much information relative to the manners and customs of their inhabitants. The date of Darius's arrangement differs so little from that of the expedition of Xerxes, which succeeded it, that mat

ters may be considered as continuing much in the

same state.

Of the whole number of Satrapies, one only was situated beyond the boundary of Asia; and that one in Africa and so extensive was this empire of Persia, that Alexander, from the time he first crossed over into Asia, scarcely ever overstept the boundary of it, constituted as it then was. We are even told by Herodotus, Clio 4, that the Persians esteemed ASIA their own peculiar possession'. But Asia, however, is to be understood in a limited sense; for the parts beyond India and Turkestan were, as we have seen, unknown.

The conquests made on the continent of Europe, and in its islands, although subjected to regular tribute, were not erected into Satrapies. Indeed, the measure of dividing the empire was anterior to the European conquests.

Our Author informs us, Thalia 89, that one of the first acts of authority of Darius Hystaspes, was to divide Persia into 20 provinces, which they called SATRAPIES; to each of which, a governor, under the title of Satrap, was appointed. That he then ascertained the tribute they were severally to pay, connecting sometimes many nations together, which were near each other, under one district; and that

1 And in Calliope, 116: "the Persians considered all Asia

as their own, and the property of the reigning monarch."

2

* In Daniel, ch. vi. ver. 1. DARIUS the MEDE (taken for Cyaxares II.) divides his empire, which consisted of the territories of Babylon and Media united, into 120 provinces, subject to three presidents, of whom Daniel was one.