is it to expect that Frank travellers in the East can master the facts essential for biblical illustration, by a mere 66 summer ramble," or "three weeks in Palestine," with no better medium for the interchange of thought with the people, than the miserable patois of a Maltese rover, in the capacity of dragoman.

These considerations prepare us to appreciate in some degree the invaluable volumes of Dr. Robinson. This great work enjoys the enviable distinction of being free from the objections to other writings alluded to above. The literary preparation which preceded the author's journey, his peculiar advantages for prosecuting it, the free intercourse he enjoyed with the native population, his laborious personal examinations of the country, and lastly the abundant historical illustrations with which the work abounds, combine to render these volumes a treasury of information, and fully justify the enthusiastic language of Professor Ritter of Berlin: "Now first begins, since the days of Reland, the second great epoch of our knowledge of the promised land!"

Dr. Robinson has long been known, both in this country and in Europe, as a profound and accurate linguist, and as one who has labored with great zeal to elevate the standard of biblical learning. His own contributions to this department are too well known to need to be enumerated here. In the course of his professional duties, he became fully apprized of the deficiency in the materials of biblical illustration; and many years since projected a personal exploration of the regions on which his studies had been so much employed. He was hindered, however, from fulfilling his intention, until, by a series of providential arrangements, obstacles were removed and facilities prepared, that mark the time and circumstances of his visit as apparently more advantageous than any that preceded it, or that may be expected soon to occur again. In 1832, the Rev. Eli Smith, of the American Mission at Beirut, a former pupil of Dr. R., made a visit to the United States. He had just returned from an extensive tour with Rev. H. G. O. Dwight through Armenia and Persia; and the personal friendship and literary sympathy between him and Dr. R. led to an agreement that they would attempt a journey together, by way of Mount Sinai and Akabah to Petra, and thence by Hebron to Jerusalem. Mr. Smith's qualifications for a profitable travelling companion on such an expedition are not surpassed by those of any other individual. Says Dr. R.:

"I count myself fortunate in being thus early assured of the company of one, who, by his familiar and accurate knowledge of the Arabic language, by his acquaintance with the people of Syria, and by the experience gained in former extensive journeys, was so well qualified to alleviate the difficulties and overcome the obstacles which usually accompany oriental travel. Indeed, to these qualifications of my companion, combined with his taste for geographical and historical researches, and his tact in eliciting and sifting the information to be obtained from an Arab population, are mainly to be ascribed the more important and interesting results of our journey."

Dr. R. left New-York in July, 1837, and passing through England, proceeded to Germany, where he conferred with Gesenius, Tholuck and Roediger on topics of importance connected with the researches on which he was about to enter. On the 1st Dec. he embarked at Trieste, and in about a week arrived at Athens. After seventeen days spent amid monuments reared to commemorate human greatness, but now serving only to mark its downfall, he left these scenes of sad but thrilling associations, and arrived by steamer at Alexandria, on the last day of 1837. Thence he proceeded up the Nile to Cairo, the Pyramids and Thebes. Returning to Cairo, he was joined by Mr. Smith, agreeably to their previous arrangement. We pass over the brief account of Egypt and its modern Pharaoh, Mohammed Ali, and the valuable observations concerning the probable bearing of his policy on the progress of human improvement in the East, and confine our notices to the themes of principal interest, the journey through the "great and terrible wilderness" and Palestine.

Previous to setting out from Cairo, they had to make preparations for a month's travel in the desert, and that our readers may appreciate the nature of their accommodations, we extract the account of their outfit.

"A tent was to be purchased and fitted up; water-skins were to be procured and kept full of water, which was to be changed every day in order to extract the strong taste of the leather; provisions were to be laid in for a whole month, as we could hope to obtain little either at Suez or at the Convent ; besides all the numerous smaller articles which are essential to the traveller's progress and health, even if he renounce all

expectation of convenience and comfort. In all these purchases we were greatly indebted to the faithful services of our Janizary Mustafa, whom we remember with gratitude.

"We chose a large tent with a single pole. This was folded into two rolls, for which we had sacks; so that it was easily packed and loaded, and suffered little damage on the way. We had large pieces of painted canvass to spread upon the ground under our beds; and found these more convenient than poles or bedsteads; as the mattresses could be rolled up in them during the day, and thus be protected from dust or rain.

"Our provisions consisted chiefly of rice and biscuit. The latter is bulky; and at a later period we substituted for it flour, from which our servants made unleavened bread; this was baked in thin cakes upon an iron plate, and proved quite palatable and not unwholesome. Flesh may be obtained occasionally from the Arabs upon the way. With coffee, tea, sugar, butter, dried apricots, tobacco, wax-candles, etc., we were well supplied. We found the dried apricots quite a luxury in the desert; and a timely distribution of coffee and tobacco among the Arabs is an easy mode of winning their favor and confidence. We had wooden boxes, like those of the Mecca pilgrims, for packing many of the articles; but afterwards abandoned them for small sacks and larger saddle-bags of haircloth, like those of the Bedawîn. These proved to be more advantageous as diminishing the bulk of the loads, and thus removing a source of expense and a cause of grumbling among the camel-drivers and muleteers. We took also a supply of charcoal, which proved of essential service."

With these equipments, two guns and a brace of pistols,-not for use, but as a terror to evil doers,-instruments for taking measurements, bearings, etc., two Arab servants and Besharah,— the same who accompanied Laborde, for a guide, and a ménage of three dromedaries and five camels, with six or eight Arabs to drive them, the travellers set out from Cairo on the 12th of March, 1838. They soon passed from the associations of civilized life to the novel and exciting feeling of finding themselves alone in the midst of the desert, " in the true style of oriental travel, carrying with them their house, their provisions and a supply of water for many days," surrounded by their uncouth animals and the no less uncouth sons of the desert, in a region where the weary eye in vain sought relief from the omnipresent desolation. Yet even the desert had its subjects of interest. Spe

cimens of petrified wood were at first abundant; and among the pebbles with which the ground was strewed, jaspers and chalcedonies were common. A less pleasing sight was the frequent carcases and skeletons of camels, which had broken down and died by the way. The party arrived at Suez on the 15th of March, and spent a day in examining the vicinity, with reference to the difficulties which have been raised concerning the Mosaic account of the journey of the Israelites from Rameses to the Red Sea in the space of three days, and the passage of such an immense multitude through the sea itself in part of a single night. For the results at which our travellers arrived and the reasons by which they are supported we refer to the volumes,* adding merely, that in our opinion all ground of difficulty seems to be satisfactorily removed.

Leaving Suez on the 16th of March, they proceeded to the region of Sinai, and arrived at the Convent on the 23d. Their route, though in many respects toilsome and dreary, was crowded with associations of the deepest interest. They sat under the palm-trees at the fountains of Moses; their camels drank freely of the bitter waters of Marah, and they pitched their solitary tent at Elim, where, in other ages, the desert was covered for many a furlong, with the encampments and herds of the Hebrew emigrants.

In one of the mountain gorges through which their path lay, the party came upon some of those rude drawings and inscriptions on the rocks, which are of such frequent occurrence in the peninsula of Sinai, and which have been by various authors attributed to the children of Israel on their way to Horeb. From the time when these rock writings were first mentioned by Cosmas, A. D. 535, to the present day, their purport has remained a mystery. It is a very singular fact, and one which strikingly illustrates the changeful nature of human affairs, that here, in these lone mountains, an alphabet is found graven on the face of the cliffs, which is shown by the thousands of inscriptions to have been in common use, but of which no other traces remain in all the voluminous literature of the world! But at length the power of science has compelled these silent solitudes to speak, and reveal their long kept mysteries. In 1839, Professor Beer,

* See also Dr. Robinson's article on "the Land of Goshen and the Exodus of the Israelites." Am. Bib. Repos., Vol. III. No. VI. April, 1840.

of Leipzig-since numbered among the many martyrs of learning-deciphered these inscriptions. But,-alas for the enthusiasm of antiquarians!-he has, with the removal of the mystery, dispersed also much of the interest. The inscriptions consist chiefly of proper names, and probably belong to an age when the region of Sinai was the pious resort of numerous Christian pilgrims.

On the route between Suez and Sinai, Dr. R. and his party turned aside to visit a cluster of ancient remains, whose history modern investigation has in vain endeavored to elucidate. Away, amid those sandy wastes, in a range of mountains six or seven hundred feet high, are found the inexplicable structures, called by the Bedawin, Surâbit el-Khadim.

"These lie mostly within the compass of a small enclosure, one hundred and sixty feet long from E. to W. by seventy feet broad, marked by heaps of stones thrown or fallen together, the remains perhaps of former walls or rows of low buildings. Within this space are seen about fifteen upright stones, like tombstones, and several fallen ones, covered with Egyptian hieroglyphics; and also the remains of a small temple, whose columns are decorated with the head of Isis for a capital. At the eastern end is a subterranean chamber excavated in the' solid rock, resembling an Egyptian sepulchre. It is square; and the roof is supported in the middle by a square column left from the rock. Both the column and the sides of the chamber are covered with hieroglyphics; and in each of the sides is a small niche. The whole surface of the enclosure is covered with fallen columns, fragments of sculpture and hewn stones strewn in every direction; over which the pilgrim can with difficulty find his way. Other similar upright stones stand without the enclosure in various directions, and even at some distance; each surrounded by a heap of stones, which may have been thrown together by the Arabs. These upright stones, both within and without the enclosure, vary from about seven to ten feet in height; while they are from eighteen inches to two feet in breadth, and from fourteen to sixteen inches in thickness. They are rounded off on the top, forming an arch over the broadest sides. On one of these sides usually appears the common Egyptian symbol of the winged globe with two serpents, and one or more priests presenting offerings to the gods; while various figures and cartouches cover the remaining sides. They are said to bear the names of different Egyptian kings; but no two of them have the name of SECOND SERIES, VOL. VI. NO. II.

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