'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.' [‎354] (377/448)

names of Seria and Stria (doubtlefs miftaken by the Amanuenfis or in the tranfcript)
danced at by fofephus. And as to the laft of the Sons of Jektan named Sheba,
here are fufficient remains both from the Syha and the Sabxi, who in confederacy with the
TacoU lately mentioned gave fome ftop to the Macedonian torrent: Sahai in India accoU
Dion. Verica, alfo from that River which ftreams not far from Joor through the Malaccan
Territories ihtb the Ocean; and from that Promontory likewife which thrufts its head in
to the fait water ne^Smapm-a, Ptolomy and others of old called Magnum. The Kingdom
of Syam withal was heretofore termed Sab anna Kegio, as attefted by Strabo in his defini
tion of the Terra Muficani: and not many leagues from Malacca there is at this day a
Town fo named. Dionyfuu alfo in his Vcriegefis makes Sabalajfa one of the Oftia of the Ri
ver Ganges. ,
Now albeit thjs eilay may ferve to point out Ophyr, yet feeing Tharjijh is an adjund with
Ophyr, and a word admitting a various fignification, it will not be loft labour to difcufs
it a little, being a term that by curious pens has been no lefs argued than Ophyr.
But by a parenthefis firft accept the defcription of what has been the fubjed of this dill
qnifition, Gold", difcovered very rarely, for that the Akraria run not in Mines and
Veins lb apparently and fo plentifully as Silver, and feldom (as Silver) wrought in the
Myne, but for the moll part hid and undifcovered till found in (hallow Brooks and Rivo-
lets near unto Mountains, ufually after ftorms and rains, fometimes in duft and powder,
but at other times in grains, which for bignefs and fhape referable Melon-feeds^ which
fort is molt pure and needs leaft refining. For the quality or nature of it is fuch, as ex
ceeds Silver twelve times in value : fo pure, as it is not fubjed to ruft-, and fofolid, as
.endures Age and Fire above other Metals: yea, moit improveable in its produd', for
Pliny lib. z 7 )-cap- 3. obferv'es, That one ounce may well be beaten with the Hammer into
feven hundred leaves, every leaf being four fingers broad and the length proportionable.
In Africa and Afia is ftore of this precious Earth: fo much being imported by David
and Solomon (as provifion for the Temple) that 'tis mentioned in 2 Chron. 9. 22. Solomon
"excelled all the Kings of the Earth in riches and wifdom : for Silver was there as plente
ous as Stones, and Cedars as the Fig-trees that grow abundantly in the plains. And
from thofetwo parts of the world much more Gold is brought into Europe (where the
leail quantity is concoded) than from America '•> albeit of Silver-ore America yields more
thanAfiktl, and put together. And yet I have not heard of any lump of Gold
thence fo great as OwWd reports he faw in America ■, one of which was an entire grain or
piece of Gold of feven pound weight, valuing feven hundred Pezo's ^ a Pezo is thir
teen Ryals: the other was five pound weight. Peter alfo faw an Ingot there that
weighed 3 3,19 Pezoes entire of it feif without any artificial addition. A rarity fit to be
prefented the Portugal King v to whom it was accordingly carried in the Boadilla, but mif-
carried by tempeft.
Now cOneerning the word Tharjijh, fomuch criticiz'd, it is Verbum ambigmm and ad
mits a various fence : For, fometimes it iignifies a City other-fome a Region: as alfo the
Chryfoliteor Sea-Beryl a precious ftone of the colour of the Sea : but at fome time the
Sea it felf,as may be gathered. That there was a City fo called in Cilicia appears by that of
the Prophet J<w^,who being fent by theAlmighty to admonifh Ninive took a contrary way,
and at Joypa fhipped himfelf for Tarjhijh ; of which City Sp. Paul the Apoftle was a Native,
A$s 22. 3. The Name is probably deduced from Tharjis the Son of Javan, Gen. 10.4. who
in the dayesof Peleg planted in that part of the lelfer ^2 which the TW*%atthis day call
Ham^a. But whereas Tarjhijh is mentioned in iReg. 10,22. and in 2 Chron.9.2 1. that Solomons
fhips went to with/^r^w's Servants*, every year once came the fhipsof Tarjhijh
bringing Gold,and Silver,and Ivory,feeing Gold in the 10. verfe of that Chap, is called
Gold of Ophyr^mth. lubmilfion, the word Tharfijh there may fignifie the Sea. For it appears
by the 1 Reg.y. 26. that King Solomon built his Navy at Eziongeber which failed to Ophyr. So
as albeit 'tis ftiled the Navy of Tharfijh and Hyrams Navy, 'tis probable thole two neighbour
Princes were concerned in the returns of that Voyage", the Phoenicians at that time being more
expert Sea-menthan the Jews- Notwithftanding which, that thofe Ihips were either riding
in the Mediterranean or upon the Nile^ unlefs brought over by fledge from Coptos or Pelufmrn
as Cleopatra's was,is very impr obable: For othdrwife it will be faid thofe Navies went to Ca~
dity which place at that time being called Tartejhm^ Pineda fancies were Veflels belonging
thereunto : otherwife, ^paiTmg that Streight they failed through the Atlantic, and doubl
ing Cape Bona Sferanta made that their way into the Red fea, as fome have con
ceited.But a vain conception it is,feeing the Scripture in exprefs terms acquaints us,That the
Navies were built at Ez.iongeber near upon the fliore of the Red fea: foas had Ophyr
been in any part in or near the Mid-land Sea,or come from Tarfijh in Cilicia, then the voyage
might
Cjold of Ophyr.