THROUGH THE RED SEA. 359 
to believe that the Red Sea did actually extend, in former times, 
twenty five miles north of Suez, I think it may be right to observe, 
that the Savant, from whom I have derived my information, is not 
a person who, being zealous for the cause of religion, might have 
falsified a little to get rid of a difficulty, but that, on the contrary, 
he feels it necessary to justify himself from the suspicion of believ- 
ing in the miracles of Moses, in whose book he declares that the 
transactions are doubtful, and the philosophy absurd. We may 
surely admit the evidence of such a witness, when it tends to con- 
firm the authenticity of religious history. 
It is evident that Pharaoh could have no expectation of the Chil- 
dren of Israel's return, when he had so frequently experienced their 
refusals to depart without their cattle, and their children ; and he 
must have been confirmed in this idea, by their carrying with them 
the bones of Joseph. But the terror of the last dreadful visitation 
probably hung over him, and prevented his pursuing them, while 
they continued their proper route, and seemed under the guidance 
of their Almighty Leader ; but when they turned aside, and were 
actually entangled in the land, and shut in by the wilderness, he 
had reason to hope that he might again recover so valuable a body 
of slaves. This is the reason assigned by Scripture for his pursuit ; 
and I cannot, therefore, agree with Mr. Bruce, that he was influenced 
by resentment at the Israelites' carrying away the jewels. In fact, 
the idea is absurd, that he should feel tranquil while they were car- 
rying off the spoils of the Egyptians to a country, whence he could 
never hope to bring them back, and that his anger should be roused 
when they were once more, apparently, in his power. 
The sufferings of Egypt, in consequence of the residence of the 
