Page 224.—“_The Mountain of the Birds._”—There has been much controversy
among the Arabian writers, with respect to the site of this mountain, for
which see _Quatremere_, tom. 1. art. _Amoun_.
Page 230.—“_The hand of labour had succeeded_,” _&c._—The monks of Mount
Sinai (_Shaw_ says) have covered over near four acres of the naked rocks
with fruitful gardens and orchards.
Page 233.—“_The image of a head._”—There was usually, Tertullian tells us,
the image of Christ on the communion‐cups.
Ib.—“_Kissed her forehead._”—“We are rather disposed to infer,” says the
present Bishop of Lincoln, in his very sensible work on Tertullian, “that,
at the conclusion of all their meetings for the purpose of devotion, the
early Christians were accustomed to give the kiss of peace, in token of
the brotherly love subsisting between them.”
Page 237.—“_In the middle of the seven valleys._”—See Macrizy’s account of
these valleys, given by Quatremere, tom. 1. p. 450.
Ib.—“_Red lakes of Nitria._”—For a striking description of this region,
see “_Rameses_,”—a work which, though, in general, too technical and
elaborate, shows, in many passages, to what picturesque effects the
scenery and mythology of Egypt may be made subservient.
Page 238.—“_In the neighbourhood of Antinoë._”—From the position assigned
to Antinoë in this work, we should conclude that it extended much farther
to the north, than these few ruins of it that remain would seem to
indicate; so as to render the distance between the city and the Mountain
of the Birds considerably less than what it appears to be at present.