OESTRUS, 
3/0 
though a hostile band was in their way, capable 
of spoiling them of half their substance.” 
‘‘ Of all that have written upon these countries, 
the prophet Isaiah alone has given an account of 
this animal, and the manner of its operation. 
“ And it shall come to pass in that dap, that the 
Lord shall hiss j'or the flp that is in the uttermost 
part of the rivers of Egypt A — And they shall 
come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate val- 
ues, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all 
thorns, and upon all hushes'” Isai. ch. IJ .v. 18, IQ. 
By the expression of resting in the desolate val- 
lies &c. Mr. Bruce understands the Prophet to 
mean “ that they shall cut off from the cattle their 
usual retreat to the desert, by taking possession 
of those places, and meeting them where ordina- 
ril}^ they never come, and which therefore are the 
refuge of the cattle.” 
“ Providence, (says Mr. Bruce) from the begin- 
ning it would seem, had fixed its habitation to one 
species of soil, ’.being a black fat earth, extraor- 
dinary fruitful as it was, it seems from the first to 
have given a law to the settlement of the country. 
It prohibited absolutely those inhabitants of the 
fat earth, called Mazaga, domiciled in caves and 
mountains, from enjoying the help or labour of 
any beasts of carriage. It deprived them of their 
flesh and milk for food, and gave .rise to another 
nation, whose manners were just the reverse of the 
first. These were the shepherds, leading a wan- 
dering life, and preserving these immense herds 
