-E.

[15] The distance here is extremely corrupt, and perhaps four months are
meant.--E.

[16] The ridiculous impressing of ancient scriptural names for the
geographical features of the country, and the nations which inhabited
it in his time, and his rambling itinerary, by days journeys, without
pointing out the precise direction of the routs, render it next to
impossible to investigate the real objects of his observations with
any decent chance of success.--E.

[17] This description suits the Calmuks.--E.

[18] Once a great city in the N.W. of Irac-agemi, not far from Cashbin. See
Chardin's Travels in Persia, to be found afterwards in this
collection.--E.

[19] This island has much puzzled commentators, some of whom have wandered
to Ormus in quest of its situation. It is probably the flat country of
Assyria, between the Tigris and Euphrates, below Bagdat, which he may
have mistaken for an island; or it may refer to the Delta of the
Tigris and Ahwas. The extent mentioned in the text does not say
whether it is to be understood as the length or circumference of the
island.--E.

[20] This must be at or near Bahrein, in the Persian Gulf, famous for its
pearl-fishery.--E.

[21] Nisan, the first month of the Jewish year, contains the latter half of
our March and former half of April; Tisri is equivalent to half of
September and half of October.--E.

[22] From the circumstance of pepper being plenty in this place it is
probable that some part of Malabar is meant, where he may have found a
colony of Parsees. Astronomy is often called astrology by old
writers.--E.

[23] This must have been some secret mechanical contrivance, all wonders
unknown to the ignorant being attributed by them to magic art.--E.

[24] Tzin is obviously China. By the Nikpha, or coagulated sea, the sea of
Tartar may be intended; concerning which, some ill-told stories may
have reached Benjamin, of mariners having been frozen up. The
situation of Cinrog it is impossible to ascertain; but it must have
been some part of India, where voluntarily burning alive is still
practised, but only by the widows of the higher casts.--E.

[25] Benjamin here obviously speaks of the Jews in the mountains of
Abyssinia, still known there under the name of Falassa. It would
appear, that the previously indicated courses led across the peninsula
of Ara