'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎123] (144/448)

Terjta. Tranfmigration
withdraw themfelves unto, Baftria at that time flourilhing fo exceedingly that it had no
lefs than a thoufand Cities. So as it may be rationally concluded, albeit in that de»
jeded and deplorable condition thefe exiled Jem were defirous to find out fuch a defert
Gountrey as Bfdras fpeaks of, it was doubtlefs an enterprize very difficult, in cafe they
had the liberty to be their own choofers, which too rarely happens unto captives. For
in thofe days through Noah's originary and after by Serrfs pofterity fucceifively the"
oriental Countreys were better planted than faphets was, (for in Alexander's time, af
ter fubverting the Perfian Monarchy, invading India and part of ScythU intra Jmaum, he
reported that there he found more People and confequently more oppofition, and greater
and wealthier Cities than he had done in his conqueft of all other that were under the
Urokeof the Per/ian Scepter,even from Indus beyond thvHelkjpont ) therefore into what
part of the World thefe poor Jem were pent is not fo eafily to be difcerned ; though I
imagine they were not permitted to cohabit together; for then their increafing ge
nerations would here as formerly in have rendred them formidable; but rather
were feparated and made to plant in feveral Colonies, as were the other Tribes, in
like manner tranfplanted. Howbeit, the caufe of their Baniihment appears in the Pro
phecy of Jeremiah chap. 24. v. 9. where 'tis recorded, that by reafon of their proper^
fity to Idolatry they (hould be removed into all the Kingdoms of the Earth, and be
come a reproach and a curfe in all places whither the Lord would drive them: Which
was fulfilled ^ for tranfplanted we fee they were into the Eaft *, and feeing the Scripture
declares not the placej 'tis of no avail more than to their feparation afterwards to make
a more curious enquiry concerning it. Albeit Joyim Leunclavim in his Pandefts to Gt-
mbrardy and fome others from the word Tattar in the Hebrew and Syriack^ importing a
remnant, Giog-chan^ Gioc-Elf , and other proper Names,there ufed, Circumcifion long
befordffhe publifhing of the Alcoran and other Jemjh Rites there pradifed, fancy to
themfelves that into thofe then uninhabited parts the Jews withdrew: Which if fo, was
in all likelihood to the N.E. of the Mare Cafprnm^ beyond Oxm and J ax arte s Rivers now
called Nycaphtac and Chef el albeit Abulfeda and Rabbi Mofes-bar-Nachma in his Para-
phrafe upon the Pentateuch conjedure that Gog and Magog (Mejhecs pofterity ) is not fo
much a general as a particular name of Princes and Peribns of command in thofe Scy-
thickJ?iovmcts, howbeit frequently mentioned in the Prophets and Ipecially in Bz,el^
38, &c. fo as that fuppofition is but weakly founded, atleaft in my apprehenfion. For
of equal force is that tradition the Jews here inhabiting as yet retain. That die OfF-
fpring of Dan, Z eh don, AJher and JVephthall being planted near Damoan under mount
Taurus, but themfelves the Iflue of Reuben, Gad, and half Manaffes by Tiglath-pla^ar
removed to this Jaaroon, and parts about Larr, the fame time the Inhabitants of Da-
mafcus were by that Prince removed unto Kyr in Media)! Reg. 16.9. But that they Ihould
fequefter themfelves from the reft of the World, was not without reafon for though
the meaning thereof no doubt was to exprefs their forrow and defire to avoid the tem
ptation of the Heathen ; yet feeing in thofe times of all forts of Men they were the leaft
fociable as Ovid fays, having as Tacitus I. 5. Hojlile odium contra omnes alios, and in re
quital thereof ftiled by the Heathen Men-haters, of all Nations the worft, and other
like Epithetes 0 yet doubtlefs have inherited that voluntary execration they intailed unto
their Pofterity at the condemnation.of our Saviour, living ever lince to our forrow we
fee in an obdurate and wretched condition all the World over, and is thought will fo
continue^ untill by miracle they be converted, as the Almighty fhall think fit ^ or at the
perfonal return of CHRIST to judgment^ or of whichisthoughtwiUbealittle
before the World's confummation: albeit as that great Scholar Mr. FW^obferves from
Matth. 11.13. in John the Baptifl, Blias is already come. The tranflation of the Septua-
gint which to Bliah adds the Thishite, being what doubtlefs in that Text milled St. Chry-
fofiome. Moreover thefe Jews, notwithftanding their itch after Idol-worlhip is over,
and that in the Synagogues they have a formal way of finging Service exprelfing very-
little reverence, and differing from that which Ezra appointed *, yet have they no fa-
crificing Prieft,holding no place proper fave Jerufalem, where the Chrifiians wonid op-
pofe it as well as Turks. The five Books of Mofes they have agreable to ours: And al
though they have no Tirfhatha or Civil Magiftrate of their own, or dare not break the
peace where they live under Chrifiian, Mahometan or Gentile Government*, yet are not
without feparation amongft themfeives, the five great Points controverted (in Auguftus
Cafar's time) betwixt the two great Families of Shammai and Hillel ftill fpreading like a
gangrene fo irreconcileably that till the TiJhbite comes (as one fays) none elfe will be
able to agree them 5 not Rabbi Bias who from the firft verfe of the firft chapter of "6^-
nefis where the letter Alevh is fix times found, cabaliftically concludes that the World
R 2 ^ Iball