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Article A VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF NAVIGATION. ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A View Of The Progress Of Navigation.
The Egyptian vessels of burthen -were constructed , says Herodotus , ( Euterpe , c . 9 6 . ) of a species of thorn , which resejnbles the lotos of Cyrene . They cut planks two cubits square , and secured them together with the bark of the byblus , made into ropes . They had a rudder , which went through the keel of the vessel ; their mast was made of the same thornand the sails were formed from the
, byblus . These vessels were some of them of great burthen . This curious account gives a clear idea of the imperfect state of naval architecture in these days . The Phsenicians , as they are denominatedby the Greeks , ancientlyoccupied the whole country of Palestine : the sterility of their native soil compelled them to derive from their industry what that
sterility had denied them . They addicted themselves to trade and manufactures , and became so celebrated for their commerce that they obtained the epithet of " Chanaanites , " or " sons of the merchant . " They were the first who made long voyages . The Adriatic and Tyrrhene seas , Iberia and Tartessus were first of all exlored by them . Their vessels were not round but of fifty oars * .
p When the nation of the Jews broke from their captivity in Egypt , and over-running Palestine , drove the terrified inhabitants to the sea-coast ; Sidon , at that time celebrated for its commercial opulence , opened an asylum to the fugitives , who were employed by the
prudent Sidonians to extend their commerce and form colonies abroad . Their first settlements to the westward were Cyprus and Rhodes ; they passed afterwards into Greece , Sicily and Sardinia , carried colonies into Gaul , and explored the southern coast of Spain . On the African shore in the Mediterranean , they founded that powerful city Carthage , and still coasting along , they found that the Mediterranean communicated by a narrow strait
with another sea , which we now call the Atlantic . Here their navigations were sometime at a stand ; but , encouraged by success they ventured , about 1250 years before the Christian asra , to pass the Streig hts and enter the ocean . According to their usual custom they sent colonies to the new discovered countries . The island now known by the name of Cadiz , first engaged their attention .
By degrees the } ' grew familiar with the navigation of the ocean , and extended themselves to the southward of the Streights , as they had before done to the northward , and Strabo assures us that soon after the Trojan war , the Phcenicians had explored a considerable portion of the western coast of Africa , where they had planted colonies and built cities . Their colony of Cadiz was very
convenient for extending their navigation to the north ; accordingly we find them coasting the shores of Portugal , Spain , and Gaul ; and extending their commerce even to the island of Great Britain , where it is supposed they made settlements , but certain it is they carried on a considerade trade in lead and tin .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A View Of The Progress Of Navigation.
The Egyptian vessels of burthen -were constructed , says Herodotus , ( Euterpe , c . 9 6 . ) of a species of thorn , which resejnbles the lotos of Cyrene . They cut planks two cubits square , and secured them together with the bark of the byblus , made into ropes . They had a rudder , which went through the keel of the vessel ; their mast was made of the same thornand the sails were formed from the
, byblus . These vessels were some of them of great burthen . This curious account gives a clear idea of the imperfect state of naval architecture in these days . The Phsenicians , as they are denominatedby the Greeks , ancientlyoccupied the whole country of Palestine : the sterility of their native soil compelled them to derive from their industry what that
sterility had denied them . They addicted themselves to trade and manufactures , and became so celebrated for their commerce that they obtained the epithet of " Chanaanites , " or " sons of the merchant . " They were the first who made long voyages . The Adriatic and Tyrrhene seas , Iberia and Tartessus were first of all exlored by them . Their vessels were not round but of fifty oars * .
p When the nation of the Jews broke from their captivity in Egypt , and over-running Palestine , drove the terrified inhabitants to the sea-coast ; Sidon , at that time celebrated for its commercial opulence , opened an asylum to the fugitives , who were employed by the
prudent Sidonians to extend their commerce and form colonies abroad . Their first settlements to the westward were Cyprus and Rhodes ; they passed afterwards into Greece , Sicily and Sardinia , carried colonies into Gaul , and explored the southern coast of Spain . On the African shore in the Mediterranean , they founded that powerful city Carthage , and still coasting along , they found that the Mediterranean communicated by a narrow strait
with another sea , which we now call the Atlantic . Here their navigations were sometime at a stand ; but , encouraged by success they ventured , about 1250 years before the Christian asra , to pass the Streig hts and enter the ocean . According to their usual custom they sent colonies to the new discovered countries . The island now known by the name of Cadiz , first engaged their attention .
By degrees the } ' grew familiar with the navigation of the ocean , and extended themselves to the southward of the Streights , as they had before done to the northward , and Strabo assures us that soon after the Trojan war , the Phcenicians had explored a considerable portion of the western coast of Africa , where they had planted colonies and built cities . Their colony of Cadiz was very
convenient for extending their navigation to the north ; accordingly we find them coasting the shores of Portugal , Spain , and Gaul ; and extending their commerce even to the island of Great Britain , where it is supposed they made settlements , but certain it is they carried on a considerade trade in lead and tin .