Rev. Dr Scott on the Semamith of Solomon. S5 



Now, if the semamith be a lizard reputed poisonous, Bochart 

 informs us, that the Arabs have a lizard to which they give the 

 name of samahras, signifying a spotted lizard, or the lizard 

 which has spots like a leper, and to which the semamith, if ac- 

 counted poisonous, may answer. 



If, however, the semamith be the stellio accounted harmless, 

 Bochart thinks it may be the wezgu, which is less in size than 

 the samabras, and so far suits the account which Solomon gives 

 of the semamith, that it is a thing little upon the earth. 



But whether the semamith be the samabras or wezgu, as Bo- 

 chart has endeavoured to establish, lizards are most abundant 

 in warm and dry countries ; and as Arabia does not yield to any 

 country in these respects, it may be called the land of lizards. 

 They are present wherever a tent is pitched or a house is rear- 

 ed. The Arabs, who are continually infested with their presence, 

 have a name for every species ; and we believe, that, in no lan- 

 guage spoken on the face of the globe, is the nomenclature of 

 this tribe of animals more perfect than in Arabia. 



With or without reason, this creature is detested by the Arabs, 

 as it was by the Greeks and Romans, Jahius, the son of Chomer, 

 asserting, that the man who killed 100 stelliones, would be dearer 

 to him than he who redeemed 100 slaves ; and Antonius Libe- 

 rales, that they were abhorred by gods and men, and that he 

 that slew one of them, did a most acceptable service to Ceres. 



All lizards, into whatever divisions, stelliones, geclcos, igua- 

 nas, &c. they may be marshalled, have four feet. The hind, 

 but especially the fore feet, very much resemble the arms and 

 hands of a man. Whoever has seen any of the lizard tribe, 

 will be instantly struck with this resemblance ; and on this ac- 

 count, all the individuals of the tribe, which are very numerous, 

 have been properly and strictly called Lacertce, that is, creatures 

 with arms or hands. 



Supposing the semamith of Solomon a lizard, it is most con- 

 sistently said to take hold with its arms or hands, in moving 

 from one place to another, that it may catch flies, which are its 

 ordinary food, elude the pursuit of its enemies, when it moves 

 along places which they cannot reach, or secure its safety, if its 

 back be undermost. In these respects it was natural for him 



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