Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1880 — Names of Countries. [ARTICLE]

Names of Countries.

The following countries, it is aalst, were originally named by the Phoenicians, the greatest commercial people in the world. The names, in the Phoenician language, signified something charteristic of the places which they designate. Europe signifies a country of white complexion; so named because the inhabitants were of a lighter complexion than those of Asia and Africa. - Asia signifies between, or in the middle, from the fact that the geographers placed it between Europe ana Africa. Africa signifies the land of corn, or ears. It was' celebrated for its abundanoe of corn, and all sorts of grain. Siberia signifies thirsty or dry—very characteristic.

Spain, a country' of rabbits or eonies. It was once so infested with these anijala that it sued Augustus fer an army to destroy them. ~ Italy, a country of pitch, from its yielding great quantites of block pitch. Calabria, also, for the same reason. Gaul, modern France, signifies yellowhaired, as yellow hair characterised its inhabitants. The English of Caledonia is a high hill. This was a rugged, mountainous province in Scotland. Hibernia is utmost, or last habitation; for beyond this, westward, the Phoenicians never extended their voyages. Britain, the country of tin, great quantities being found on it and adjacent islands. The Greeks called it Albion, which signifies in the Phoenician tongue either white or high mountains, from the whiteness of its shores, or the high rocks on the western coast Corsica signifies a woody place. Sardinia signifies the footsteps of men, which it resembles. Syracuse, bad savor, so-called from the unwholesome marsh on whicii it stood. Rhodes, serpents or dragons, which it produced In abundance. Sicily, the country of grapes. Scylla, the whiipool of destruction. jTtna signifies a furnace, or dark, er smoky.