+ Art. IX. Uber die Natur und den Ursprung der Emanationslehre, &c. i. e. A Differtation on the Nature and Origin of the Doctrine of EMANATION among the Cabbalifts; or, an Answer to the following Prize-question, propofed by the Society of Antiquaries at Caffel: Whether the doctrine of the Cabbalifts, concerning the emanation of all things from the fubflance of the Deity, derived its origin from the Grecian philofophy? By M. JOHN FREDERIC KLKER. 8vo. Riga. 1786. The prize was adjudged to this masterly production, in which the Author enquires, firft, How far it is true, that the Cabbalifts taught the doctrine of emanation, and what that doctrine really contained.-Secondly, What relation that doctrine bad to those contained in the Holy Scriptures, and to the philofophy of the ancient nations.-And, thirdly, From what fource the Cabbalifts drew the peculiar tenets of their fyftem of emanation? М. Art. X. M. De Mouradgea D'Obfon, Knight of the order of Vafa, Secretary and late Interpreter to his Majefty the King of Sweden, and Chargé d'Affaires at the Court of Conftantinople, has published propofals for printing a large work entitled, Tableau général de l'Empire Othoman. In the firtt Part, the Author purposes to give a circumftantial account of the Mahometan legislation, entering particularly into the defcription of its religious, civil, criminal, political, and military codes. The fecond Part will be wholly confined to the history of the Otoman empire. This hiftory will be chiefly extracted from the annals of the monarchy. M. D'Ohflon proposes to shew the origin of the empire, its progreffive increase, its eftablishment in Europe, the rapidity of its conquefts, the fuccefs of its arms, the genius of its Sultans, the character of its generals, minifters, &c. He promifes to communicate many fecrets relative to the feraglio, to the private life of the monarch, to the Sultane fles, and the haram; which he informs us have been collected partly from the officers of the court, and partly from female flaves of the haram, who have obtained their liberty, on being married to fome officer of the court. The plates which are to accompany this work are now engraving at Paris, by able artifts, under the direction of Meffre. Cochin, Moreau, and Le Barbier. They are numerous, and reprefent most of the religious and civil ceremonies of the country, befide portraits of the principal perfonages mentioned in the hif tory, views of palaces, remarkable buildings, beautiful landfcapes, &c. &c. The fubfcription is opened (at the Author's and M. Didot's the printer's) only for the first and fecond volumes, which contain the first fection of the first part, viz. the religious code of the Mahometan legiflation. Each volume, in folio, will coft 150 livres, to be paid on the delivery of the books, at Paris. Seventy 2 Seventy plates will be given with thefe two volumes, which, with the neatnefs of the impreffion, and the goodness and fuperior fize of the paper, will not allow the Author to afford the work at a lower price. Since writing the above, we have feen an advertisement in the public papers, ftating, that an Englifh tranflation of this fuperb undertaking is in the prefs, and carrying on by the order and under the infpection of the Author. A profpectus of the work is to be had of Mr. Cadell in the Strand. m. FOREIGN BOOKS, of which ENGLISH Tranflations have just Travels through Syria and Egypt, in the Years 1783, 1784, 1785. M. VOLNEY, as we learn from the preface to this work, is a gentleman of fome fortune. In the early part of his life, he had habituated himself to ftudies of various kinds. He had read, and often heard it afferted, that travelling was the beft method of adorning the mind, and forming and improving the judgment. He thought that his own country, and the neigh-. bouring nations, were too well known to require examination, and that they would not afford fufficient objects for the full em ployment of his attention, which feems to have been particularly turned toward political and moral inveftigations. The rifing tates of America, and the favages of that continent, were not without temptations to draw him thither. Afia, however, had more powerful attractions. There a large field prefented itself to be explored; and the confideration of the former greatnefs of Syria and Egypt, contrafted with its prefent ftate, as described by modern travellers, induced him to vifit thofe countries, in preference to any other part of the globe. Our Traveller, accordingly, fet out for Egypt toward the end of the year 1782. After continuing feven months at Cairo, finding too many obstacles to a thorough examination of the interior parts of the country, and not having proper opportunities of learning Arabic, he determined to proceed into Syria. Eight months refidence among the Druzes, in an Arabian convent, was employed in rendering the Arabic familiar to him; and, Of these people, the Druzes, a curious account was lately given by another modern Traveller, the Baron de Tott; and from him, many particulars were given in the Appendix to volume 76. of our Review, p. 626. with a competent knowledge of that language, he was enabled to travel through Syria and Egypt with great advantage. Travellers, in general, have been deficient in the two principal means of acquiring a knowledge of the country they pafs over, viz. time, and the vernacular language. Without the latter, it is impoffible to appreciate either the genius or character of a nation. Interpreters cannot give fuch adequate ideas, on any fubject, as a direct verbal communication. Without fufficient time, no found judgment can be formed, because the novelty of moft objects confounds and aftonishes the traveller. The firft impreffions and ideas which present themselves, must be repeatedly examined before he can fatisfy himself that the notions which he has formed are juft and accurate. In these refpects, M. Volney's journal muft be valuable; for he was upwards of three years on his journey, and he feems to have acquired a competent acquaintance with the language. As to the form of the work, the Author has not followed the ufual method obferved in moft books of travels; he has rejected the order and details of an itinerary, as too prolix; and he has only exhibited general views, which, indeed, are better calculated to combine facts and ideas, and may fave the reader the unneceffary trouble of referring from one chapter to another. In the first chapter, the Author treats of Egypt in general, without repeating the defcriptions which former travellers have given of the remarkable antiquities in which that country abounds. In this and the two next chapters, are many valuable obfervations on the natural hiftory of the country, and its GREAT RIVER. He frequently corrects the opinions of a late traveller (M. Savary), especially thofe relative to the enlargement and rife of the Delta. In this part of the work, the learned Hiftorian will find much entertainment, and the Naturalift many curious remarks. In the fourth chapter, M. Volney defcribes the winds which are prevalent in Egypt. As a fpecimen of the Author's manner, and of the tranflator's ftyle, and alfo for the entertainment of our readers, we fhall tranfcribe what is faid of the hot wind called Kamfin. The foutherly winds, of which I have been speaking, are known in Egypt by the general name of Winds of 50 days; not that they laft 50 days without intermiffion, but because they prevail more frequently in the 50 days preceding and following the equinox. Travellers have mentioned them under the denomination of poisonous winds, or, more correctly, hot winds of the defart. Such in fact is their quality; and their heat is fometimes fo exceffive, that it is difficult to form any idea of its violence without having experienced it; but it may be compared to the heat of a large oven at the moment of drawing out the bread. When these winds begin to blow, the atmosphere affumes an alarming afpect. The fky, at other times fo clear in this climate, becomes dark and heavy; the fun lofes his fplendor, fplendor, and appears of a violet colour; the air is not cloudy, but grey and thick, and is, in fact, filled with an extremely fubtle duft, which penetrates every where. This wind, always light and rapid, is not at first remarkably hot, but it increases in heat in proportion as it continues. All animated bodies foon difcover it, by the change it produces in them. The lungs, which a too rarified air no longer expands, are contracted, and become painful. Refpiration is fhort, and difficult; the skin parched and dry, and the body confumed by an internal heat. In vain is recourfe had to large draughts of water; nothing can reftore perfpiration. In vain is coolnefs fought for; all bodies, in which it is ufual to find it, deceive the hand that touches them. Marble, iron, water, notwithstanding the fun no longer appears, are hot. The fireets are deferted, and the dead filence of night reigns every where. The inhabitants of towns and villages fhut themfelves up in their houses, and thofe of the defart, in their tents, or in wells dug in the earth, where they wait the termination of this deftructive heat. It ufually lafts three days, but if it exceeds that time, it becomes infupportable. Woe to the traveller whom this wind furprizes remote from shelter; he muft fuffer all its horrible effects, which fometimes are mortal. The danger is moft imminent when it blows in fqualls, for then the rapidity of the wind increafes the heat to fuch a degree, as to caufe fudden death. This death is a real fuffocation; the lungs, being empty, are convulfed, the circulation is difordered, and the whole mafs of blood driven by the heart towards the head and breast, whence the hemorrhage at the nose and mouth which happens after death. This wind is especially deftructive to perfons of a plethoric habit, and thofe in whom fatigue has destroyed the tone of the muscles and the veffels. The corpfe remains a long time warm, fwells, turns blue, and is easily feperated +. Thefe accidents are to be avoided, by stopping the nose and mouth with handkerchiefs; an efficacious method likewife, is that practifed by the camels. On this occafion, thefe animals bury their nofes in the fand, and keep them there till the fquall is over. Another quality of this wind is its extreme aridity; which is fuch, that water fprinkled on the floor evaporates in a few minutes. By this extreme drynefs, it withers and ftrips all the plants; and, by exhaling too fuddenly the emanations from animal bodies, crifps the fkin, clofes the pores, and caufes that feverish heat which is the invariable effect of fuppreffed perfpiration.' The Author proceeds to defcribe the climate and state of the air in Egypt, and afterward gives a minute account of the various inhabitants of that country. In the fubfequent chapters, we have a summary of the hiftory of the Mamluks; of the hiftory of Ali Bey; detail of occurrences from the death of Ali Bey to the year 1785; and an account of the prefent political and commercial ftate of Egypt. *We do not approve of the whole of the Author's phyfiology, either in this or in other parts of his work. ↑ We fuppofe the Tranflator meant to fay easily fupturated; or very foon reduced to a putrid state. Conftant would be better here than invariable. The city of Cairo is particularly described, and the manner in which the inhabitants live is much enlarged on. We are alfa presented with an excellent defeription of the endemic and other difeafes of the country; and the Travels through Egypt conclude with defcribing the ruins and pyramids. Leaving Egypt by the ifthmus of Suez, which feparates Africa from Afia, and following the coaft of the Mediterranean, M. Volney entered Syria; of which country he gives the geography and natural hiftory, defcribing its general appearance, its mountains, rivers, lakes, &c. The eruptions of volcanos and earthquakes are particularly attended to, as are likewise the climate, the qualities of the air, water, and winds. We then proceed with our traveller to fome very pertinent obfervations on the winds, clouds, rains, fogs, and thunder-ftorms in Syria. Quitting his philofophical inquiries, through which we have followed him with pleasure, M. Volney proceeds to describe the feveral inhabitants of Syria, and their manner of living. We might here entertain our readers with many curious extracts from the accounts which the Author gives of these people, whose domeftic history is fo little known to us. Speaking of the Dru zes, and their remarkable hofpitality, he fays, Whoever prefents himself at their door, in the quality of a fuppliant, or paffenger, is fure of being entertained with lodging and food, in the most generous and unaffected manner. I have often feen the lowest peasants give the laft morfel of bread they had in their houfes to the hungry traveller; and when I obferved to them that they wanted prudence, their answer was, God is liberal and great, and all men are brethren.' There are therefore no inns in this country, any more than in the reft of Turkey. When they have once contracted with their guest the facred engagement of bread and falt, no fubfequent event can make them violate it; various inftances of this are related which do honour to their character. A few years ago, an Aga of the Janiffaries, having been engaged in a rebellion, fed from Damafcus, and retired among the Druzes. The Pacha was informed of this, and demanded him of the Emir, threatening to make war on him in cafe of refufal. The Emir demanded him of the Shaik Talhouk, who had received him; but the indignant Shaik replied, When have you known the Druzes deliver up their guests? Tell the Emir, that, as long as Talhouk fhall preferve his beard, not a hair of the head of his fuppliant fhall fall!' The Emir threatened him with force; Talhouk armed his family. The Emir, dreading a revolt, adopted a method practifed as juridical in that country. He declared to the Shaik, that he would cut down fifty mulberry trees a day until he should give up the Aga. He proceeded as far as a thoufand, and Talhouk ftill remained inflexible. At length, the other Shaiks, enraged, took up the quarrel, and the commotion was about to become general, when the Aga, reproaching himself with being the caufe of fo much mischief, made his escape, without the knowledge even of Talhouk.' |