104 
A.BEN. 
The additional mistakes and even absurdities in this treatise are 
very numerous, but the edifice being pulled down it is not worth 
while to meddle with the materials. One circumstance, however, 
ought not to be passed over in silence. In this same treatise, Mr. 
Bruce gives a very detailed account of some magnificent ruins at 
Asab; ''the blocks of marble'' composing which ''were joined with 
thick cramps or bars of brass and he adds soon afterwards, " but 
upon analysing this on my return to England, I found it copper 
without mixture, or virgin copper/' Now the whole of this 
proves to be pure fiction, for, the late editor of his works has 
confessed, that the whole voyage from Loheia to Babelmandeb 
and Asab, (which was first suspected by Mr. Laing, the well- 
known author of " The History of Scotland,'') must be given up as 
being totally inconsistent tvith the observations and dates found 
among Mr. Bruce* s own journals."^ The proof given by Mr. 
Murray is as follows. 
<' Mr. Bruce arrived at Loheia on the ISth of July, 1769, 
where he remained tUl his departure for Abyssinia. He made 
observations of latitude or longitude there on July 21st, 26th, 
August 5th, kc. Balugani's journal of this period is complete." 
(Vide Mr, Murray's Appendix to Bruce, Vol. II. page 264, last 
edition.) It was within this period, from the 27th of July to 
the 6th of August, that Mr. Bruce pretends to have made the 
voyage to Babelmandeb and Asab. The voyage from Cosseir to 
* The only mention of any thing like a building on this coast is to be found in Strabo, 
(L. xvi. p. who places a column near the village of Asjjsvj, and attributes it to 
Sesostris. I made many enquiries on the subject, but never could learn the good tidings 
of any such column or other ruins being at present in existence. 
