GO'LlUS, JAMES, was born at the Hague, in 1596. He was educated at the university of Leyden, where he studied the ancient languages, mathematics, theology, and medicine, and made such great progress in his studies that he was appointed professor of Greek at Rochelle eoon after he had attained his twenty-first year. Ho resigned this office after holding it a very short time, aud returned, to Leyden, where he devoted himself particularly to the study of Arabic, under Erpenius. When the United Provinces sent an embassy to the king of Morocco, in 1622, Golius accompanied it by the advice of Erpenius, in order to obtain a more accurate knowledge of the Arabic language. Ile had already made sufficient proficiency in Arabic to present to the king of Mare= a memorial written in that language. In 1624 Golius wise appointed professor of Arabic on the death of Erpeuhrs, who had recommended him as the only person worthy to fill the chair. In the following year he sailed to the Levant, travelled in Arabia and Meso potamia, and returned home by way of Constantinople in 1620.
During his absence he was appointed professor of mathematics. Ho
resided at Leyden for the remainder of his life, and died on the 23th of September, 1667. The work which has given most celebrity to the name of Colitis is his ' Lexicon Arabina-Latinum,' published at Leyden, 1653, in folio. It was principally formed on the basis of the Arable Lexicon of Janharl, entitled 'Al Sihah,' that is, 'the purity,' and has been deservedly considered as a most extraordinary work for the time in which he lived. Many Arabic scholars prefer it to the new Lexicon by Professor Froytag of Bonn. Among the other principal works of Golius we may name 'Proverbia quaadant Alia Imperatoris et Carmen Tograi,' Leyden, 11329, 8vo; ' Ahmedis Arabsiadas Vitae et Rerum gestarum Titnuri,' Leyden, 4to, 1636; and a reprint of the Arabia grammar of Erpenius, Leyden, 1656, with the addition of several Arabia works. He also oompiled a Persian Lexicon, 1u his Lexicon lieptaglotton.' Further particulars concerning the works of Gollus are given by Schnurrer iu his Bibliotheca Arabica,' and by Silvestro de Sacy in the ' Biographie Universelle,' art. Golius.