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by the Hebrew text of Scripture. The Egyptian tables run thus*.

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The Hebrew account of the death of the patriarchs is confined to the race of Seth. Supposing those of the race of Cain to correspond therewith, we have fourteen reigns, or six kings who reigned in succession, in each race, exclusive of Adam and Noah. For although ten generations of patriarchs are recorded, six only reigned in succession. Enoch was translated during the life of his father Jared; and Lamech died five years before his father Methuselah. Consequently neither Enoch or Lamech became kings. And as the deluge was withheld until the death of Methuselah, his grandson Noah was equally excluded from reigning in the antediluvian world. He is therefore recorded

* Vide Letter VI.

separately, as the eighth prince in succession, the fourteenth Menu, and first king of the postdiluvian world. The Egyptians name him the Semedio; to denote that although his Antara was among the divinities, his reign was among mortals. A reference to the fifth Table will elucidate the following, and prove that there were only six princes who reigned, and that the aggregate time of their rule was 725 years.

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Admitting the same number of sovereigns in the race of Cain, the fourteen dynasties are complete according to the Hebrew Scriptures. Adam, one; the six princes in the line of Seth, seven ;

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the six in the line of Cain, thirteen; and Noah fourteen. From the foregoing table it appears, that the aggregate years of the reigns of the six princes from the death of Adam to the deluge was 725 years. In the fifteenth table, as taken from the account of Berosus, they are stated at 740. But those were prophetic years. For the account is given in Zapot, or periods of 3600 days. The Chaldeans, equally with the Hindus and Chinese, place the deluge at 1680 prophetic years from the creation, or 168 Zapot. For the 120 Zapot, mentioned Σαροι. by Abydenus, allude to the rule of Cain, or the Chaldeans; and 1680 prophetic years answer to 1656 Julian years. Now 740 prophetic years of 360 days answer to 728 Julian ones; and 940 prophetic years to 928 Julian ones. Thus 928 + 728 = 1656, and 740+ 940 1680. This places the death of Alorus at A. M. 928, in lieu of 931; and allots 728 years, in lieu of 725, for the reign of the six princes. But we must recollect that Berosus recorded in Zapot, or periods of 3600 days; and as it is morally impossible that the several princes should have died precisely at the end of one of those periods, we must suppose the time to have been marked by the Zapos to which it came most near, and the princes to have reigned collectively for 73 Zapo and 7 years. It is in round numbers stated at 74 Zapor. Consequently, VOL. I.

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is intended to represent a year of 365 days and 6 hours, is found by dividing the prolonged number of 111974400000 by the Matires contained in a Savan year, or 306720000; which gives 365 days and a fraction of 21600000 Matires, or 6 hours. For, as the year is multiplied by 100, to produce this supposititious life, so must the remainder be divided by 100, to reduce it into the hours contained in a day of mortals. And this is so far material, as it tends to the explanation of another question. The Arabians and Egyptians usually describe a year of 365 days and 6 hours, by 365.25. Now 21600000 Matires are equal to 25 days. I am aware that Europeans explain this Eastern year, as 36.525 years. But, literally, it denotes 365 days and 6 hours, and figuratively 365 years and 25 days.

There are comparatively very few books of the Hindus considered as orthodox. And of those, five only are said to be antediluvian; although they admit of many written since the deluge; sacred Puranas, treating of antediluvian matters. The Hindus admit of eighteen Vedas, or parts of true knowledge. But the three great Vedas and two Sasters are the only sacred books, supposed to have been written in the old world: and these have evidently been organized since the flood. Sir William Jones carries them back so far as the

year B. c. 1580. I am inclined to think that they ought to be carried at least 500 years further back. Be that as it may, the Hindus, who do nothing without system, by the division of the sections, prove that in their present state they were compiled and organized in the fourth, or Cali age, which comprises 432000 nominal years. The first Veda is divided into five sections, the second into eighty-six, and the third into one thousand. By multiplying the first into the second, and adding two for the Sasters, and then multiplying the whole by the third, they obtain the number of the fourth, or Cali age; which is intended as a date. For example, 5 x 86 + 2 x 1000 = 432000. No orthodox Brahman admits the fourth Veda to be of divine origin or antediluvian, but considers it as a compilation from the three sacred Vedas, written many years subsequent thereto. There are some who profess to believe the two first to have been written by Swayambhuva; the third by Buddha, the son of Máyá; and the fourth, or Veda of Vedas, to have been compiled from the former three, by the last Buddha, or Crishnu (Moses). But the best informed Indians acquiesce with the author of the Gela, in ascribing the three first to Buddha the son of Máyá; who says, "This divine doctrine I declared to Menu, who delivered it to his son Menu, who explained it to Icshwacu.

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