Egypt

so celebrated for the wisdom of its institutions, seems to have been one of the most constant subjects of his attention. This country had long been rendered inacce ible to the rest of the world by the jealousy of its rulers and the prejudices of its inhabjitants against foreigners. But a short time before Hero dot us commenced his travels it had been opened to the Greeks; and though it was then almost entirely unknown, and every part of it has since been examined by crowds of travelers and described in almost every language, yet no author, ancient or modern, has given a more accurate and instructive acceunt of it than Hero dot us. He did not content himself with a knowledge of places; he investigated likewise the productions of the soil, fhe manners, customs, and religion of the people, the history of the last princes who reigned. before the conquest of the country by the Persians, and many interesting partic ulars concerning the conquest itself The second book of his history, whick ts devoted to the description of Egypt is still our richest store of in form a: tion concerning its ancient history and geography. From Egypt he proceeded to Libya, concerning which he collecte¢ a ma of information anally new tc his contemporaries and valuable to us He a erts himself that he residec some time in Tyre. He visited the coasts of Palestine, and thence con tinued his route to fe then opu: lent and flourishing. is visit to AS syria has been doubted; but if we con: sider the different pa ages of his deseription of Babylon we must be con. vinced that none but an eyewitne could have given so exact an account of that great city and of the manner: of the inhabitants.