716 
BABEL. 
took refuge here, and continued to make it the place of his residence 
for the remainder of his life. The tomb of Mahomet at Medina is 
held in high respect by the Mussulmans, yet they are not obliged to 
visit it in order to perform their devotional exercises, but, as the cara- 
vans pass near it from Syria in their return' to Mecca, they turn aside 
to view the prophet’s sepulchre. The tomb is situated in the corner 
of the great square; it is of plain mason-work, surrounded with iron 
rails, and is only to be seen by looking through them, and is placed 
between the two tombs in wliich are deposited the ashes of the two 
first caliphs. The story that has so long been circulated, and has 
obtained such general credit, that his coffin is of steel, and is suspended 
in air between two vast magnets, is an idle fiction, that has nothing 
but vulgar prejudice for its support. 
Although it is not more magnificent than the tombs of the founders 
of other mosques, the building that covers it is hung with a piece of 
silk stuff embroidered with gold, which is renewed every seven years 
by the pacha of Damascus. Tliis building is guarded by forty 
eunuchs, chiefly for the security of the treasure which is said to be 
kept in it. This treasure consists chiefly of precious stones, the offer- 
ings of rich Mussfdmans ; but the account given of it is blended 
with much fable. 
Babel. v 
This is the name of a city and tower, undertaken to be built by 
the whole human race soon after the flood, and remarkable for the 
miraculous frustration of the attempt by the confusion of languages. 
As to the situation of ancient Babel, most authors are of opinion 
that it was exactly in the place where the celebrated city of Babylon 
afterw'ards stood. That it was in the same country, appears indispu- 
tably from Scripture ; but that it was exactly in the same place can- 
not be proved, nor is it a matter of any consequence. 
Authors have been much divided as to the motive by which the 
whole race of mankind were induced to join in such an undertaking. 
Some have imagined that it was out of fear of another deluge ; others, 
that, knowing beforehand they were to be dispersed over all the dif- 
ferent countries of the world, they built this tower, in order to defeat 
the design of the Deity, because, having a tower of such vast height 
as they supposed, those who were at a distance could easily find their 
way back again. Had either of these been their design, however, it is 
probable they w'ould have chosen an eminence rather than a plain, 
for the situation of their tower ; or, indeed, they would have chosen 
some high mountain, such as Ararat, for their mark, rather than any 
toW'er at all ; for though it is said they designed the top of their tower 
to reach to heaven, we can scarcely suppose them to have been such 
fools as to imagine this possible in the literal sense of the word. But, 
indeed, when we consider their ignorance of the true figure and mo- 
tions of the earth and celestial bodies, and reflect on the many 
absurdities in religion and science believed by the ancients, even 
this monstrous idea is not too gross to havi'e been entertained by 
them. But it appears most rational to^ take the word, in the limited 
