THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 433 



underftood; and this was the reafon why, in the eaiiieft 

 ages, the India trade was carried on without difficulty. 



Many doubts, however, have arifen about a port called 

 Ophir, whence the immenfe quantities of gold and lilver 

 came, which were neceflary at this time, when provifion 

 was making for building the Temple of Jerufalem. In what 

 part of the world this Ophir was has not been yet agreed. 

 Connected with this voyage, too, was one to TarfhrOi, which 

 fuiFers the fame difficulties ; one and the fame fleet perform- 

 ed them both in the fame feafon. 



In order to come to a certainty where this Ophir was, it 

 will be neceflary to examine what fcripture fays of it, and 

 to keep precifely to every thing like defcription which we 

 can find there, without indulging our fancy farther. Firft, 

 then, the trade to Ophir was carried on from the Elanitic 

 Gulf through the Indian Ocean. Secondly, The returns were 

 gold, lilver, and ivory, but efpecially filver*. Thirdly, The 

 time of the going and coming of the fleet was precifely 

 three years f, at no period more nor lefs, 



Now, if Solomon's fleet failed from the Elanitic Gulf to 

 the Indian Ocean, this voyage of neceffity mult have been 

 made by monfoons, for no other winds reign in that ocean. 

 And, what certainly mews this was the cafe, is the precife 

 term of three years, in which the fleet went and came be- 

 tween Ophir and Ezion-gaber. For it is plain, fo as to fu- 

 perfede the neceffity of proof or argument, that, had this 



Vol, I. 3 I voyage 



* 1 Kings, chap. x. yer. 22. f 1 Kings, chap. x. ver. 22, 2 Chron. chap. ix. ver. 24. 



