Page 38 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

I.'l TOR TO SUEZ. 21

frequently appended to, the inscriptions in
Greek. In some other respects, also, the in­
scriptions on the Jebel Mokatteb are dissi­

milar to those found in other parts. Instead
of being rudely scratched upon the face of the
rock, many of them exhibit proofs of having
been executed with tolerable care, and the
lines along which they are drawn are all
placed horizontally ; and several which ap­
pear to have been executed at the same period
had evidently much labour bestowed upon
them.

These inscriptions have given rise to much
interesting discussion. When conjecture as­
signed them to the Israelites during their
wanderings, it was hoped that their decipher­
ment might elucidate many unexplained por­
tions of holy writ; and so sanguine were the
expectations in England at one period on this
head, that Bishop Clayton offered a reward of
five hundred pounds to any person who would
proceed to this mountain and copy them. No
success has hitherto attended the labours of

those who have looked over fac-similes of such
as were brought from other parts of the penin­

sula. It has been suggested they arc of Phoe-