78 MEMOIR OF BURCKHARDT. 



on the spot by MM. Laborde and Linant; some 

 of which may be seen in the later editions of Keith's 

 Evidence of Prophecy. 



Singularly do these magnificent remains illustrate 

 the words of the inspired volume, which foretold 

 that wisdom and understanding should perish out 

 of Mount Seir ; that Edom should be a wilderness, 

 its cities a perpetual waste, the abode of every un- 

 clean beast (Isaiah xxxiv. 5. 10. 17). Nowhere 

 is there a more striking and visible demonstration 

 of the truth of these divine predictions than among 

 the fallen columns and deserted palaces of Petra, 

 whose ruins can now be regtirded only as the grave 

 of Idum£ea, in wdiich its former w^ealth and splen- 

 dour lie interred. The dwellers in the clefts of the 

 rock are brought low ; the princes of Edom are as 

 nothing ; its eighteen cities are swept away ; and 

 the territory of the descendants of Esau affords as 

 miraculous a proof of the inspiration of Scripture 

 history as the fate of the children of Israel. 



When Burckhardt had taken as minute a survey 

 of the ruins as time and circumstances would admit, 

 he proceeded to the execution of his pretended vow, 

 and for that purpose hired a guide, for a pair of old 

 horse-shoes, to conduct him up IMount Hor to the 

 tomb of Aaron ; but as the sun had gone down, he 

 was obliged to kill his goat at some distance, for 

 the sacrifice answers equally well if performed 

 within sight of the sacred spot. "\Miile he was 

 slaying the animal, the pious guide commenced 

 praying aloud : " O Haroun, look upon us ! it is 



