in Syria, Phoenice S'r. 577 



As far as I could learn, the T)rufes and the Surees differ YeiyThe-Reiigio,.' 

 little in their Religion, which is a mixture of the ChnjtianandW^S! 

 and Mahometan, the Gofpels and the Koran being equally re- 

 ceived as Books of Divine Authority and Infpiration. For to 

 omit, what is commonly reported, of their being circum- 

 cifed , worfliipping the rifmg and fetting Sun , inter-marrying 

 with their neareft Relations, and making their Children pafs 

 through the Fire, (as Ibme of theEaftern Nations did former- 

 ly to Moloch \) we maybe convinced, I prefume, from their 

 indulging themfelves in Wine and Swine's Flefli, that they are 

 not Mahometans \ at the fame Time, the Names, they are 

 known by, oi Hanna, Toufeph, Meriam &c. (1. e. John,Jofeph3 

 Mary &c.) will not be fufRcient Arguments in Favour of their 

 being Chr'ifl'ians. 



C Η A P. IV. 



'PhyficalOhfervations &c. or an Effay towards the Natural 

 Hi ft or y i>/ Arabia Petriea. 



IF we leave Egyft upon the right Hand, and purfue thefe Ψ ^^!'^ "/ 

 Obfervations direftly forwards into the Land of EdomJ-i"^'»^^^'- 

 we fliall be prefented with a Variety of quite different Profpecls/n'^Larj^' 

 from thofe we have met with in the Land of Canaan. For 

 we are not here to be entertained with any Taftures c loathed 

 li/'ith Flocks, or Valleys ftanding thick with Corn ; here are ' 

 no Vineyards, or Olive Yards; but the whole is a lonefome, 

 defolate Wildernefs, no otherwife diverfified than by Plains 

 that are covered with Sand, and Mountains that are made up 

 of naked Rocks and Precipices. Neither is this Country, ever 

 unlefs fometimes at the Equinoxes, refreihed with Rain ; but 

 the few hardy Vegetables, which it produceth, are ftunted 

 by a perpetual Drought ; and the Nouriihment which is con- 

 tributed to them, by the Dews, in the Night, is fufficiently 

 impaired, by the powerful Heat of the Sun, in the Day. The 

 Intenfenefs of the Cold and Heat at thefe refpeolive Times, 

 very emphatically Accounts for the Provifion of Providence in 

 fpreading out for the IfraeUtes, a Cloud to he a Covering hy 'Day, 

 andFire to give Light (and Heat) in the Night Seafon. Pf io5".39. 



Ccccc But 



