established themselves on the north coast of Africa, in a colony. Cut it is quite evident that the Negro race, which mostly peoples that vast continent, could not have proceeded from them:—
1. Because the establishment of Carthage, the great Phoenician (Canaanitish) colony, was at a late period in the history of the world;[1] but the permanent division of races had been formed centuries anterior to this event; and the Negro race, as a race, had long before sprung into existence.
2. If this were not the case, the probability is that the great desert would have prevented their being mingled with the mass of the aborigines who live south of the desert; and it is almost certain that the interior of Africa was first reached by the way of Egypt.
3. History informs us that Carthage, a colony, grew up, by itself, in one locality; flourished for a space, and then sank to decay; while it does not inform us that Carthage was the mother of nations, the founder of a race.
Moreover, the fact should not be forgotten that the blood of the Canaanites was more mingled with that of Europeans than with Africans; for they formed more colonies in Europe than in Africa, and their influence was stronger in Europe than in Africa; and they have left behind more numerous marks and monuments of their power in Europe than in Africa. Indeed, almost every vestige of their former might, in Africa, has been obliterated.
- ↑ The foundation of Carthage, Utica, Septis, &c., took place, according to Heeren, between 1000—500 b.c. See "Heeren's Historical Researches" Vol. i. Ch. ii.
