ARTHUR W. SUTTON, F.L.S., ON A RECENT VISIT TO PETRA. 113 
the Badiet-el-Tih ; the scene of the Israelitish encampment 
during the Forty Years. It was on breaking up their encamp- 
ment that they desired to ascend on to the Edomite table-land, 
and asked permission of the King of Edom to pass by “ the 
King’s Highway,” but were refused (Numbers xx, 16-21). Mr. 
Sutton supposes (with other writers) that Moses desired to lead 
the Israelitish host right through the city of Petra up into the 
table-land beyond. This would have been an impossible task ; 
both owing to the narrow and difficult pathways leading into, 
and out of the city ; and moreover the Israelites in passing 
through the city would have been exposed to attack from a 
hostile population. It was through “ the border ” of Edom, not 
its centre, that the tribes desired to pass, and this highway was 
discovered, and in all probability identified by the members of 
the expedition of 1883-4. The road strikes off from the Wady- 
el- Arabah towards the mountains at a point a few miles north 
of Mount Hor. It was partly explored by our party, and the 
rocks on either side were covered by rude drawings of animals ; 
there can be little doubt, the writer believes, that this was the 
King’s highway by which the Israelites desired to ascend to the 
table-land of Edom and Moab ; and probably Mr. Sutton will 
admit this view.* 
Perhaps this article cannot be better closed than in the words 
of Dean Burgon’s elegy — on witnessing the desolation of Petra 
which had been foretold by the prophets — and is now plainly 
revealed to the traveller of the twentieth century : — f 
And this is Petra : — This the lofty boast 
Of Edom’s once unconquerable coast ! 
These the gay halls through which in days of old 
The tide of life so rapturously rolled ; 
These the proud streets where wealth with lavish hand 
Poured the rich spoils of every Orient land ; 
All that the seaman’s timid bark beguiles 
From Cush and Ophir, Tarshish and the Isles ; 
Afric’s red gold, Arabia’s spicy store 
And pearl and plume from India’s farthest shore. 
How changed ! how fallen ! All her glory fled ; 
A widowed city mourns her many dead. 
Like some fond heart which gaunt disease hath left, 
Of all it lived for — all it loved bereft ; 
Mute in its anguish ; struck with pangs too deep 
For words to utter, or for tears to weep.” 
* Mr. Sutton has now accepted this view. 
f Mr. Sutton lias given a detailed account of his visit in the Friends’ 
Witness, vol. i, No. 2 (1908). 
