This page has been validated.
THE NEGRO'S ORIGIN.
19

country (Judea) call Egypt, Mestre, and the Egyptians, Mestreans. [1]

Rollin says, "Mizraim settled in Egypt, which is generally called in Scripture after his name." And again, "Mizraim is allowed to be the same with Menes, whom all historians declare to be the first king of Egypt." The ancient name remains to this day among the Arabians, who call Egypt, Mesre. Although M. Basnage has ventured to express the opinion that Mizraim was never in Egypt, yet are his footprints too legible not to be deciphered.

(C.) As to the posterity of Phut settling in Africa, the evidence in Scripture is, that he is invariably joined with his brethren, the Cushites. Jeremiah xlvi. 9, says, "Cush and Phut that handle the shield." Ezekiel xxxviii. says, "Persia, Phut, and Cush with them." So also speaks the prophet Nahum. Josephus speaks as follows: "Phut also was the founder of Lybia, and called the inhabitants Phutites


  1. Jos. B. I., chap. vi. § 2.
    Note. The Foulahs have a tradition that they are the descendants of Phut, the son of Ham.
    Whether this tradition be true or not, it is a singular fact that they have prefixed this name to almost every district of any extent which they have ever occupied. They have Futa-Torro, near Senegal; Futa-Bondu and Futa-Jallon to the North-East of Sierra Leone.—Wilson's Western Africa page 79