to N. W. of us, we saw a number of prodigious pillars of sand at different distances, at times moving with great celerity, at others stalking on with a majestic slowness; at intervals we thought they were coming in a very few minutes to overwelm us; and small quantities of sand did actually more than once reach us. Again they would retreat so as to be almost out of sight, their tops reaching to the very clouds; their tops often separated from the bodies; and these, once disjoined dispersed in the air, and did not appear more. Sometimes they were broken near the middle, as if struck with a large cannon shot. About noon they began to advance with considerable swiftness upon us, the wind being very strong at north. Eleven of them ranged along side of us about the distance of three miles. The greatest diameter of the largest appeared to me at that distance as if it would measure ten feet. They retired from us with a wind at S. E. leaving an impression upon my mind to which I can give no name, though surely one ingredient in it was fear, with a considerable deal of wonder and astonishment. It was in vain to think of flying; the swiftest horse, or fastest sailing ship, could be of no use to carry us out of this danger, and the full persuasion of this rivetted me as if to the spot where I stood, and let the camels gain on me so much in my state of lameness, that it was with some difficulty I could overtake them." (Travels, vol. iv. p. 553.) If this quotation is allowed to explain the imagery used by Job, we see a magnificence in it not before apparent. "We see how Job's dignity might be exalted in the air, might rise to great grandeur, importance, and even terror, in the sight of beholders; might ride upon the wind, which bears it about, causing it to advance or to recede; and, after all, when the wind diminishes, might disperse this pillar of sand into the undistinguished level of the desert. This comparison seems to be precisely adapted to the mind of an Arab,

who must have seen, or have been informed of, similar phenomena in the countries around him."

No. 163. xxxi. 26, 27. Kissed my hand.] "If (says Pitts,) an inferior comes to pay his respects to a superior, he takes his superior's hand, and kisses it, afterwards putting it to his forehead. But if the superior be of a condescending temper, he will snatch away his hand as soon as the other has touched it; then the inferior puts his own fingers to his lips, and afterwards to his forehead, and sometimes the superior will also in return put his hands to his lips." (p. 66.) Thus also Irwin (Voyage, p. 268.) "When the sheik of Ghinnah held a court of justice, and had condemned his vizier, he was immediately surrounded by a crowd of his courtiers, who kissed his hands, embraced his knees, and interceded with him for the pardon of the vizier." If Job had done this in the case he refers to, it would have been an idolatrous action, notwithstanding it is exactly agreeable to the civil expressions of respect which obtain in the East.

No. 164. xxxi. 35, 36. That mine adversary had written a book! surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.] From the following extracts it appears what is the customary kind of homage, which, in the East, is paid not only to sovereignty, but to communications of the sovereign's will, whether by word or letter. When the mogol, by letters, sends his commands to any of his governors, these papers are entertained with as much respect as if himself were present; for the governor, having intelligence that such letters are coming near him, himself, with other inferior officers, rides forth to meet the patamar, or messenger, that brings them, and as soon as he sees those letters, he alights from his horse, falls down on the earth, and

takes them from the messenger, and lays them on his head, whereon he binds them fast: then retiring to his place of public meeting, he reads, and answers them." (Sir THOMAS ROE's Embassy, p. 453.)

"The letter which was to be presented to the new monarch was delivered to the general of the slaves, it was put up in a purse of cloth of gold drawn together with strings of twisted gold and silk, with tassels of the same, and the chief minister put his own seal upon it; nor was any omitted of all those knacks and curiosities, which the oriental people make use of in making up their epistles."

"The general threw himself at his majesty's feet, bowing to the very ground: then rising upon his knees, he drew out of the bosom of his garment the bag, wherein was the letter which the assembly had sent to the new monarch. Presently he opened the bag, took out the letter, kissed it, laid it to his forehead, presented it to his majesty, and then rose up." (CHARDIN's Coron. of Soleiman, p. 44.) To such a custom as is here described Job seems to allude in this passage.

No. 165. xxxvii. 9. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind.] M. Savary speaking of the southern wind, which blows in Egypt from February to May, says, it fills the atmosphere with a subtle dust, which impedes respiration, and brings with it pernicious vapours. Sometimes it appears only in the shape of an impetuous whirlwind, which passes rapidly, and is fatal to the traveller, surprised in the middle of the deserts. Torrents of burning sand roll before it, the firmament is enveloped in a thick veil, and the sun appears of the colour of blood. Sometimes whole caravans are buried in it. Does not Job allude to this wind when he says, out of the south cometh the whirlwind?

No. 166. xxxviii. 14. It is turned as clay to the seal.] The birds pillage the granary of Joseph extremely, where the corn of Egypt is deposited, that is paid as a tax to the grand signior; for it is quite uncovered at the top, there being little or no rain in that country; its doors however are kept carefully sealed, but its inspectors do not make use of wax upon this occasion, but put their seal upon a handful of clay, with which they cover the lock of the door. This doubtless is what is referred to in these words, it is turned as clay to the seal.

HARMER, vol. ii. p. 457.

No. 167.-xli. 1. Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook 2] From this passage HASSELQUIST (Travels, p. 440.) observes, that the leviathan "means a crocodile by that which happens daily, and without doubt happened in Job's time, in the river Nile; to wit, that this voracious animal, far from being drawn up by a hook, bites off and destroys all fishing tackle, of this kind, which is thrown out in the river. I found, in one that 1 opened, two hooks, which it had swallowed, one sticking in the stomach, and the other in a part of the thick membrane which covers the palate."

No. 168.-PSALM xvi. Title.

Michtam.

D'HERBELOT observes of the works of seven of the most excellent Arabian poets, that they were called Al Modhahebat, which signifies golden, because they were written in letters of gold upon Egyptian paper. (p. 586.) Might not the six psalms which are thus distinguished be so called, on account of their having been on some occasion or other written in letters of gold, and hung up in the sanctuary? Ainsworth supposes that Michtam signifies a golden jewel. Such a title would have been agreeable to the eastern taste, as D'Herbelot has mentioned a book intitled, Bracelets of Gold. Writing in letters of gold still continues in the East. Maillet, speaking of the royal Mohammedan library in Egypt, says, the greatest part of these books were written in letters of gold, such as the Turks and Arabs, even of our time, make use of in the titles of their books." (Lett. xiii. 189.) The Persians are fond of elegant manuscripts gilt and adorned with garlands of flowers. (JONES'S Persian Grammar, p. 144.)

P.

No. 169.—xix. 10. Sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb.] There is no difference made amongst us between the delicacy of honey in the comb and that which is separated from it. From the information of Dr. Halley concerning the diet of the Moors of Barbary, we learn that they esteem honey a very wholesome breakfast, "and the most delicious, that which is in the comb, with the young bees in it, before they come out of their cases, whilst they still look milk-white." (Miscel lanea Curiosa, vol. iii. p. 382.) The distinction made by the Psalmist is then perfectly just, and conformable