e 3 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



dorus Siculus fays, the Troglodytes, the indigenous inhabi- 

 tants of that very fpot, had a tradition from father to fon, 

 from their very earlieft and remoteft ages, that once this 

 divifion of the fea did happen there, and that after leaving 

 its bottom fometimes dry, the fea again came backhand co- 

 vered it with great fury. The words of this author are of 

 the moll remarkable kind. We cannot think this heathen 

 is writing in favour of revelation. He knew not Mofes, 

 nor fays a word about Pharaoh, and his holl ; but records 

 the miracle of the divifion of the fea, in words nearly as 

 itrong as thofe of Mofes, from the mouths of unbiased, un- 

 defigning Pagans. 



Were all thefe difficulties furmounted, what could we 

 do with the pillar of fire ? The anfwer is, We mould not 

 believe it. Why then believe the pailage at all? We have no 

 authority for the one, but what is for the other; it is alto- 

 gether contrary to the ordinary nature of things, and if not 

 a miracle, it mull be a fable. 



The caufe of the feveral names of the Red Sea, is a fub- 

 ject of more liberal inquiry. I am of opinion, that it cer- 

 tainly derived its name from Edom, long and early its 

 powerful mafter, that word fignifying Red in Hebrew. It 

 formerly went by the name of Sea of Edom, or Idumea; 

 fince, by that of the Red Sea. 



It has been obferved, indeed, that not only the Arabian 

 Gulf, but part of the Indian Ocean % went by this name, 



though 



* Dionyfii Periegefis, v. 38. et Comment. Euftathii in eundem. Strabo, lib. xvi. 

 j>. 7^5. Agathemeri GeograpVia, lib. ii. cap. n. 



