Southwick, near Oundle,
Feb. 27th, 1852.
SIR,--The accompanying woodcut, taken from Gesenii Monumenta
Phœnicia, Tab. 23, fig. 59, has induced me to send you a description
of the remaining figures of the precious fragment, and the history
written underneath them.
[Illustration]
The upper part of the stone contained, _probably_, the infant Jesus
and his mother Mary. Immediately beneath her feet is the figure here
described; and below it is an ox at his manger; and underneath the feet
of the ox, an ancient writing, of which the following is the meaning.
"The illuminated star (spica Virginis) of Virgo led the Magi slowly to
the inn filled within, and in the court-yard, with crowds of people.
Arriving at the mean cattle-stable, the Magi were." The names of
the _three_ chiefs of the Magi in the place of the erasions? From a
Mukatteb inscription I get the name of one of them, viz. "Nathan Hafi,
the Grandfather."
Now what can the three legs, with the _man's_ head in the middle
denote, but the three _chiefs_ of the Magi? And how is it that the
people of Mona adopted it as _their_ peculiar coat of arms, if _a
portion_ of that sect did not establish themselves, after the nativity,
in the isle of Mona? The passage in Matt. ii. 12, does not militate
against the idea.
Let us now take that most valuable auxiliary, Etymology, in order that
we may further elucidate the subject.
Mannin, the Isle of Man, Mana, or Mona, may be thus divided, Man-n-in.
Persian, _māna_, a sect of the Magi. Sanscrit, _māna_, to
investigate, seek or desire knowledge, to give knowledge, to respect,
_revere_, _worship_. A. Saxon _mont-ige_, _Mona_ insula; _monige_,
monitiæ; _monigean_, monere, to teach, instruct, &c. Gaelic, _man-ach_,
a monk.
And lastly, let us not despise tradition, however absurd it may at
first sight appear.
Among a few legends, I have been told one, probably imperfectly, by a
lady; viz. "A man was thrown from the top of a mountain in Mona; and
was afterwards, sometimes seen as a sheep in the plain below, sometimes
as a goat." Will any person of _Mannin veg veen_ do me the favour of
giving the _complete_ legend; with any other legend respecting the
peopling of their island? It may throw more light on the _peculiar_
occupation of the Magi.
Your's truly,
T. R. BROWN.
G. W. _fears, with regret, that the_ "PUNCH" _Artist, to whom his
learned Correspondent's sketch was forwarded to copy, has been more
humourous than correct in its transfer._