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and enabled them to be pieced together and made to fit in as the evidence 
of two witnesses often does when we can get at the explanation, although we 
may have previously been puzzled by the divergencies. There are few more 
interesting studies in this age of unbelief and scepticism than these most 
wonderful confirmations of the minute accuracy of the histories given in the 
Old Testament. When Sepharvaim was missing it was left to Mr. Rassam 
to find out the lost city. Ur, of the Chaldeans, was also a myth, and it 
was for Mr. Rassam, again, to find out the truth with regard to it. I con- 
fess that most of us have felt great perplexity as to how the river could have 
wandered about in the South of Egypt ; but we have the most simple 
explanation now offered, — so simple that the wonder is that we did not find 
it out ourselves. Indeed, there is no better test of true discovery than that 
it should be so very simple when we have it put before us. (Hear, hear.) 
We cannot, I think, too highly estimate the value of these discoveries, and 
although Mr. Rassam has said very little about the difficulties he has had 
to overcome, the more one knows about what he has achieved the more one 
values the indomitable perseverance which has resulted in the discoveries of 
which we have heard to-night. (Applause.) 
Captain F. Petrie (Hon. Secretary). The statement that England is 
not able to get a firman from the Sultan enabling Mr. Rassam to com- 
plete his discoveries is one which must have grated upon the ears 
of all present. Discoveries such as he has made are to be classed 
amongst the most important of the many of which Englishmen may 
well be proud ; and yet, England, with her power in the East, and after all 
she has done in past years for the Porte, is unable to get from it the 
permission necessary to enable her scientific men to continue their investiga- 
tions in one of the most interesting spots in the world. I venture to think 
that this Society would not be exceeding the limits of propriety, if, either in 
its corporate capacity, or through some of its leading members, it were to 
place before the Prime Minister those wishes which I am certain are felt 
by all scientific men upon the subject. (Hear, hear.) 
Mr. W. Griffith. — The contribution to Biblical history presented to 
us this evening is not only one full of interest, but, as we must all admit, it 
is one of the greatest value. There certainly was great difficulty in connec- 
tion with the question of where the river Gihon was and what the word 
Kashiven meant ; and, while we have received interesting testimony on these 
points, we have also received testimony as to the integrity of the Old 
Testament and the integrity of the translators, who have not attempted to veil 
their ignorance, but have done the best they could to preserve the original text 
in its entirety ; and the more our knowledge throws its light on the text the 
more it is to be trusted and the better it stands the test of criticism. Mr. 
Rassam alluded to Noah as the name of the person who escaped the Flood. 
Any one who knows the history of the names of the East will not only 
recognise the accuracy of his description, but will admit that the form of 
name is usually emblematical. If Mr. Rassam could give us any 
further information about this person and the traditions relating to him, it 
