INTRODUCTION. 



the rule I follow here, is to give the preference to fuch 

 of each kind as are mentioned in fcripture, and con- 

 cerning which doubts have arifen. A pofitive precept that 

 fays, Thou malt not eat fuch bealt, or fuch bird, is abso- 

 lutely ufelefs, as long as it is -unknown what that bird and 

 what that animal is. 



Many learned men have employed themfelves with fuc- 

 cefs upon thefe topics, yet much remains nill to do ; for it 

 has generally happened, that thofe perfectly acquainted 

 with the language in which the fcriptures were written, 

 have never travelled nor feen the animals of Judea, Pales- 

 tine, or Arabia; and again, fuch as have travelled in thefe 

 countries, and feen the animals in queftion, have been ei- 

 ther not at all, or but fuperficially acquainted with the ori- 

 ginal language of fcripture. It has been my earneft defire 

 to employ the advantage I polTefs in both thefe requifites, to 

 throw as much light as poflible upon the doubts that have 

 arifen. I hope I have done this freely, fairly, and candidly 

 if I have at all fucceeded, I have obtained my reward. 



3 •» 



As for the fifties and other marine productions of the Red ' 

 Sea, my induftry has been too great for my circumftanceSo 

 I have by me above 300 articles from the Arabian gulf alone s 

 all of equal merit with thofe fpecimens which I have here 

 laid before the public. Though I have felected a very few 

 articles only, and thefe perhaps not the moil curious, yet 

 as they are connected with the trade of the Red Sea as it 

 was carried on in ancient times, and may againbe relumed, . 

 and as of this . I have treated profefTedly, I have preferred 

 thefe, as having a clamcal foundation, to many others more 



Yo.L»..V a . E. » curicus . 



