[14] Shiraz, about forty miles from which are the ruins of Persepolis.—­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 Arabia and the Red Sea; but his names of places are
    unintelligible.—­E.

[26] Perhaps Asowan in upper Egypt, which is rendered probable by the
    journey through the desert.—­E.

[27] Harris considered Gana to mean Guinea; but it is probably Nigritia,
    or the inland country of Africa, on the Niger or Joliba.—­E.