Page 68 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)

MI.] TOR TO SINAI. 49

started, that this might be also the production
of the Aphes tribe.
In the Red Sea, on my route to England,
I met with a learned Jewish Rabbi, who had
traversed much of the East, and whose Travels
had been recently published in India. From

him I learned that on his journey through
the Desert contiguous to Damascus, far re­

moved from trees or vegetation of any kind,
a substance was deposited, which, from his
description, in appearance, size, and flavour,
accurately resembled the manna of Scripture.
This was firmly believed by him and the peo­
ple of the country to have fallen there as a
dew from heaven.
I should, however, have scarcely ventured
on his single evidence to narrate a story

in appearance little worthy of attention or
credence, had not several Bedowins of the
country, with whom I have conversed, bore
testimony to the same effect; and, as being
likely to lead to the knowledge of some sub­
stance with which we are at present unac­
quainted, it may not be considered unworthy
the inquiry and investigation of future tra­
vellers.

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