DESCRIPTION OF ARABIA. 73 



with its twelve springs and sevent}^ palm-trees. But, 

 as we have already observed, it is vain to reason 

 from modern appearances. The retirement of the 

 sea, and the increase of coral shoals, has so rniich 

 altered the gulf, that no decisive arguments can be 

 built on the present shallowness of the waters, or 

 breadth ol the chamiel. We know that in former 

 times ships entered the harbour of Kolzoum (the 

 Clj-sma or Arsinoe of the Greeks) , but in consequence 

 of the retreat of the waters that place was deserted. 

 Suez, which was not in existence towards the end 

 of the fifteenth century, rose on its ruins. Besides, 

 those who endeavour to account for this phenome- 

 non by natural causes forget that the transaction 

 was miraculous.- Even if w-e suppose that the 

 agency of the tides was employed by Providence in 

 favouring the passage of the Israelites, the east 

 Avind, which, blowing all night, divided the Avaters 

 of the gulf in the middle, laying the channel bare, 

 as between two walls, was clearly supernatural, 

 since the monsoon there blows constantly from the 

 north and the south. And as this unprecedented 

 ebb of the waters must have been supernatural, not 

 less so was the sudden reflux by which the Egjq)- 

 tians were completely overwhelmed. 



Contrary to the generally received opinion on this 

 subject. Lord Valentia has started a theory, that the 

 Israelites must have crossed to the northward of 

 Suez; as the presumption is that the marshes, 

 which extend for about twenty-five miles in that 

 direction, were then overflowed with water. This 

 supposition contains nothing inconsistent with Scrip- 

 ture history or with natural appearances ; and it 

 removes a difficulty which Dr. Shaw could not re- 

 concile, except by alleging that Josephus had been 

 guilty of making "too hasty statements," in caus- 

 ing the children of Jacob, encumbered as they were 

 with their families, cattle, baggage, and kneading- 



VoL. I.— G 



