as our received traditions inform us.

'Hence it came to pass that the first appearance was not to be
determined only by rules of art, but also by the testimony of such
persons as deposed before the Sanhedrim, or Great Senate, that they had
seen the New Moon. So a committee of three were appointed from among the
said Sanhedrim to receive the deposition of the parties aforesaid,
who, after having calculated what time the moon might possibly appear,
despatched some persons _into high and mountainous places, to observe
and give their evidence accordingly, concerning the first appearance of
the moon._

'As soon as the new moon was either consecrated or appointed to be
observed, notice was given by the Sanhedrim to the rest of the nation
what day had been fixed for the New Moon, or first day of the month,
because that was to be the rule and measure according to which they were
obliged to keep their feasts and fasts in every month respectively.

'This notice was given to them in time of peace, _by firing of beacons,
set up for that purpose,_ which was looked upon as the readiest way
of communication, but, in time of war, when all places were full of
enemies, who made use of beacons to amuse our nation with, it was
thought fit to discontinue it.']

[Footnote 79: page 263.--_The women chatted at the fountain_. The bath
and the fountain are the favourite scenes of feminine conversation.]

[Footnote 80: page 264.--_Playing chess._ On the walls of the palace of
Amenoph the Second, called Medeenet Abuh, at Egyptian Thebes, the King
is represented playing chess with the Queen. This monarch reigned long
before the Trojan war.]

[Footnote 81: page 272.--_Impaled._ A friend of mine witnessed this
horrible punishment in Upper Egypt. The victim was a man who had
secretly murdered nine persons. He held an official post, and invited
travellers and pilgrims to his house, whom he regularly disposed of
and plundered. I regret that I have mislaid his MS. account of the
ceremony.]

[Footnote 82: page 299.--In the _Germen Davidis of Gants_, translated
into Latin by Vorstius, Lug. 1654, is an extract from a Hebrew MS.
containing an account of Alroy. I subjoin a translation of a passage
respecting his death.

R. Maimonides deposes: That the Sultan asked him whether he were the
Messiah, and that he answered him, "I am"; and that then the monarch
inquired of him what sign he had. To this he replied that they might cut
off his head and that