[304] It is not to be supposed, however, that this is a just representation of all that “great and terrible wilderness” through which the Israelites were led for forty years. It is indeed “a land not sown,” (Jer. ii. 2,) and a land of pits and drought fearful to contemplate, as a journey for a wandering population of nearly two millions of souls, especially in the hottest seasons of the year; but the peculiarly terrible wilderness must have been among the defiles, hemmed in by scorching cliffs in the Sinaitic peninsula.
In that direction also were the “fiery flying serpents,” concerning which I have never been able to learn anything more satisfactory than that, in the hot and unpeopled gorges west of the Dead Sea, there is a thin and yellow serpent called the Neshabiyeh, which flings itself across from one point to another in the air with astonishing velocity and force. It is therefore named after Neshâbeh, a dart or arrow in Arabic. The natives also apply to it the epithet of “flying.” The wound which it inflicts is said to be highly inflammatory and deadly, and from this effect it may be called “fiery.” It may be also that, from being of a yellow colour, it may glitter like a flame when flying with rapidity in the sunshine.
It is only in Isaiah xxx. 6, that the epithet “flying” is used for these serpents. Observe, however, in Hebrew Lexicons the several applications of this word תוע.
[309] Dr H. Bonar.
[316] They take a pride in attributing everything of antiquity here to Pharaoh, the cursed king of Egypt,—as those about the Euphrates attribute all their old wonders to the cursed king Nimrod. These names are learned from the Korân.
[320] Numerous travellers, however, have since gone from Jerusalem in virtue of the agreement made on this occasion by me, and returned without molestation from these people.
[332] This I repeat after having travelled at different times on most parts, north, west, and south of the lake, and read all that has been printed about the eastern side. (1867.)
[339] Since writing the above, we learn from Lieutenant Warren’s very interesting letters that the Turkish Government have sent a large force into the trans-Jordanic region, with a view of chastising the Arabs: it remains to be seen whether this measure will leave any permanent effects.—(Nov. 1867.)
[405] Especially in a book probably little known, but published as “Memoirs of a Babylonian Princess. By (herself) Marie Therese Asmar,” who was in London in 1845, and supported for a time by fashionable patronesses of romantic Orientalism.
[408] The events of 1860-61 led to a tragical termination of the career of this young chieftain.