18 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



by the people, who ' made their lives bitter with 

 hard bondage.' 



" Josephus, the Jewish historian, represents 

 this transaction agreeably to the true sense of 

 the sacred text. He says, ' the Egyptians made 

 gifts to the Hebrews ; some in order to induce 

 them to depart quickly, and others on account 

 of their neighbourhood and friendship for them.' 



" As an additional confirmation of this being 

 the true meaning of the expression," my uncle 

 continued, " we may recollect that the custom of 

 giving, receiving, and even demanding presents 

 is common to all parts of the East at this day ; 

 it is especially practised on the arrival or taking 

 leave of strangers, and therefore may be well 

 applied, in this case, to the departure of the 

 Israelites. It seems to have been the same in 

 all ages ; for I need scarcely remind you of the 

 6 gold, and spices of very great store, and pre- 

 cious stones,' that the Queen of Sheba gave to 

 Solomon ; nor of the magnificent gifts he pre- 

 sented to her when she was going away, even 

 ' all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that 

 which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty/ 

 Nor is this exchange of presents looked upon as 

 any degradation to dignity, nor any mark of a 

 rapacious meanness. 



" I have been the more desirous to explain 

 that passage, because, from the ambiguity of one 



