2008.017.007-015_001

Lastly, my author says all think that part of the ten tribes
Dwell beyound the Sabbatical river, which is said to be about
The caspian sea of which the testemony of Josephus is famous
The emperor Titus saith he, passing between Arca and Raphanes,
Cities of king Agrippa he saw the wonderful river which
Though it be swift yet it is dry on every seventh day, and that
Day being past, it resumes its ordinary course as if it had no
Change, and it always observe this order, It is called Sabbatical
From the Solemn feast of the Jewes, because it intimates their
Rest every seven day, on which God himself rested after the
Creation of the world. This river runs all the week with such
Swiftness and impetuosity, that it Carries away with the sand
And stones, which is the cause that the tribes who live beyond
It remains shut up and cannot discover themselves for though
On the seventh day the river doth rest, and is quiet, yet it is
Forbidden to the Jewes to take a journey on that day, and for
That reason they have remained there miraculously concealed for
Some ages, Neither is this so strange since there are many things
Which we know, and yet can give no account of their original
Are we not at this day ignorant of the heads of the four capital
Rivers Nilus, Ganges Euphrates and Tygris, and many large
Countries are yet undiscovered. Yea, some are unknown by being
Placed beyond mountains so it happened in the reign of
Ferdinand and Isabella about 1400 that some Spanyards were
Found out by accident at Barneca, about ten miles from
Salamaca in Spain, to which place they fled when the Moors
Possessed Spain and dwelt there eight Hundred years without
Being discovered Furthermore as to the Sabbatical river, I
Heard it from my father, saith Manasseh Ben Israel, and
Fathers do not use to impose upon their sons, that there was
An Arabian at Lisbon in Portugal who, had an hour-glass