28a PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1760. 



this addition, that such Mahometans as went from Jerusalem to Mecca, went 

 that way to join the Cairo caravan at Scheich AH. This seems to be a situation 

 opposite to Kadesh Barnea; at the line drawn by all the geographers ; it is with- 

 out Moiint Sinai (taken for this whole tract) ; and just before the Moabites, as 

 the children of Israel passed by Mount Hor, now Acaba, leaving the Asphaltic 

 lake on their left hand, to the north-west. The tradition too of the Arabs is, 

 that they passed this way; therefore he thinks Kadesh Barnea must be near this 

 spot. There are here considerable ruins ; and he knew of no city that ever was 

 here ; for Petra lay more to the east, between the Asphaltic lake and the Elanitic 

 giilf. To leave no inquiry wanting, he asked the Rabbins of Jerusalem where 

 they placed Kadesh Barnea; and they said these ruins. 



Mr. M. set out from Mount Sinai by the way of Scheich Salem ; and, after 

 passing Mahomet's stone, came to a beautiful valley. He lay there, and hoped 

 he discovered the manna, and did not set out before day light, that he might 

 not pass the rock which Moses struck twice. He searched, and inquired of 

 his Arabs, but could neither hear nor see any any thing of it. He saw several 

 short inscriptions stained on some parts of the mountains, the characters being 

 the same with those on mount Sinai, Meribah, &c. given by the bishop of 

 Ossory. About 4 miles before arriving at Pharan, they passed through a remark- 

 able breach in a rock ; each side of it is perpendicular as a wall, about 80 feet 

 high, and the breach is about 40 broad. It is at this breach, he imagines, the 

 Horites were smitten, 4 miles beyond the present ruins of Pharan ; for having 

 passed this breach they could make a stand, nor could they well be pursued. 

 Here, on the tops of the mountains on the right hand, were ruins of buildings, 

 and one seemed a castle. From Meribah to near this place, they had always 

 rather descended ; in most places there is the bed of a stream, and after rain the 

 water runs ; but a little before they came to this breach, it winded off towards 

 the west, for the waters fall into that part of the desert which they crossed from 

 Tor. Between this breach and Pharan, there are several springs, and one at 

 Pharan where they encamped ; there is the bed of a river, the traditional" account 

 of which agrees with what is said by St. Paul. Waters sefem to have run from 

 Meribah to within about 6 miles of this place ; the bed of a stream is here 

 again very plain, and a spring at the upper end of it, which does not yield water 

 enough to make a stream, the bed then is dry ; 4 valleys terminate here, and 

 form a large area. They travelled in the bed of the river through the valley to 

 the north ; and in about half an hour, the sight and appearance of a large 

 stone, not unlike Meribah, which lay at some distance from the mountain on 

 the right hand, struck him ; and he also observed it had many small stones 

 upon it. The Arabs, when they have any stone or spot in veneration, as Ma- 

 homet's stone, and the like, after their devotion, lay some smooth stone upon it. 



