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APPENDIX. 
leviathan. The best Hebrew scholars are well aware 
that it means a serpent, for this is the first definition 
given in the Hebrew Lexicon ; yet they have decided 
not to translate the word in the text, but to let it stand 
in almost the original Hebrew, that people may spec¬ 
ulate on its true meaning, or have been satisfied by 
giving a note or two, sometimes filled with the most 
various learning, but too often so absurd as to call 
into play the tongue of satire, or the keen shafts of 
ridicule. I must tell a story in this connection, and 
I am done; for, driven as I am by commentators 
from the sea to the river , which they contend is the 
sea, and therefore decide that they must have a le¬ 
viathan in the river also, (a wish on their part per¬ 
fectly. natural,) I intend to gratify them by giving 
them a well-authenticated serpent in a river of Egypt 
that will answer the description in Job far better than 
the crocodile. 
“ Diodorus Siculus, Lib. III., relates of a serpent in 
Egypt, sixty feet long, which, though but small in 
comparison of those we have been speaking of, yet 
was in appearance too large to be caught and carried 
alive to Alexandria, to be presented to King Ptolemy 
the Second. This great prince was eminent for his 
curiosity. He was desirous of seeing everything 
that was strange or scarce. Those that brought him 
elephants, or any other uncommon animals, were 
liberally rewarded. By this means the Greeks be¬ 
came acquainted with many things that were before 
utterly unknown to them. Such a laudable curiosity, 
and so noble a spirit in a king, to reward all those 
that contributed to please and instruct him, prevailed 
upon a company of huntsmen to attempt to bring 
him the aforesaid great serpent, which lived chief ¬ 
ly in the water , but strayed ashore from its proper 
element a considerable distance every day, to make a 
prey of the farmers’ cattle for his subsistence. Their 
first attack, which was very vigorous, failed, as the 
