Quotes:Beke, Charles Tilstone

Zirkoff, Boris

Beke, Charles Tilstone. English explorer of Abyssinia, b. at Stepney, Middlesex, Oct. 10, 1800; d. July 31, 1874. Educated at a private school in Hackney; entered upon a business career, 1820. After some travels and commercial pursuit, he entered Lincoln's Inn where he studied law. From early youth seriously interested in Biblical and archaeological research, his first work of importance, *Origines Biblicae; or, Researches in primeval History, being publ. by Allen & Co., London, in 1834 (xv, 336 pp.). His object was to establish the theory of the fundamental tripartite division of the languages of mankind, a literary effort for which the Univ, of Tübingen conferred on him the degree of doctor of philosophy. In 1840, Beke made his first journey into Abyssinia, to establish 497 commercial relations and discover the sources of the Nile. From that time on, his life was devoted both to an intense study and exploration of African and Middle East countries, and to establishing commercial relations with Central Africa. Together with his wife, Beke travelled through Syria and Palestine, 1861-62, where he was particularly interested in establishing the true location of Mount Sinai. His conclusions were publ. posthumously by his widow. In addition to a great many scientific papers and essays, he also wrote *The Idol in Horeb. Evidence that the golden image at Mount Sinai was a Cone, and not a Calf (London: Tinsley Bros., 1871, vi, 155 pp.).

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 3, pp. 496-497