xvi bled the reader with fuch cities, or towns, as are mentioned only in Jofhua, in reference to the feveral tribes they belonged to, but no where else in refeference to any hiftorical tranfaction or occurrence. There being also several other places, which are but once or twice mentioned in the facred hiftory, and that but barely, fo as no light is afforded thereby (or from any other authors) as to their fituation, I have likewife judged it better to pass most of them quite over in filence, than to name them only to tell the reader, that no tolerable account could be given of them. For the fame reafon I have not crowded the map of the Holy Land with multitude of places of no use to be known, but have inserted therein only fuch as are remarkable in reference to the facred hiftory. To take off the drynefs of bare Geography, I have ftudiously laid hold of fuch opportunities as came in my way, to take notice of any curiofity, either natural or artificial. And I have ventured to enlarge upon the Pyramids, as being fome of the nobleft pieces of human art and labour, either ancient or modern. There remains only to obferve, that, in order to adjust the geography of these facred books, I have, upon confulting the Samaritan or old Hebrew Pentateuch, learnt the true original reading of feveral texts, particularly of Deut. x. 6, 7. whereby the contrariety of the present reading of the faid text (in the common common Hebrew and our English Bible) to Numb. VOL. I. b CONTENTS OF Of the Places of the Antediluvian World, mentioned in Of the Mountains of Ararat, whereon the Ark of Noah refted, upon the abating of the Flood: together with fome confiderations concerning the Place where the Ark |