This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ...for their observations. These instruments they have from us, and made by our artists, and they do not in the least vary from ours, except that the characters are Arabic." Ships, colonies, and commerce were long ago ably represented and sustained by the small but prosperous and powerful State of Phoenicia, of which Tyre was the capital. This State claims the first consideration of our author, as the first leading maritime nation. Insignificant in territory and population, not more than twelve miles in breadth, and not more than two hundred and twenty--five miles in length, yet holding, during many centuries, the command of the sea! "It is not diflicult to discern the principal causes of the vsuccess and prosperity of these Phoenician traders, which we may be sure did not rest, as some writers have supposed, on an extensive system of piracy. This, and other evils of a similar character, may have existed among them, as elsewhere, for a certain period; but they would not have ruled the maritime commerce of the world had not their power rested on foundations far more firm than those of robbery and plunder. No nation has ever become great merely by lawless acts. Ve believe their success was chiefly due to the practice of dealing with anyone who was willing to deal with them, and to the encouragement they invariably gave to perfect freedom of intercourse. Nor must it be forgotten that they largely' imported the raw materials of other countries, asserting their various products to suit the demand, and transporting them when thus assorted, together with their own manufactures, to all parts of the world." " Their practice, indeed, was as perfect as their policy was wise. The merchants of Tyre were the first toestahlish...