d therefore read [Hebrew:] _Chiw_: and indeed
the interpreters might easily have supposed that the word was wrong
written, from its wanting the final _nun_. Russia has always been famous
for its gray foxes or gray squirrels, which, in the Russian language, are
called [Hebrew] in the Hebrew text, therefore, of Benjamin, we should read
[Hebrew] _Waiwerges_, which as nearly resembles the Russian word, as a
Spanish Jew could possibly write it. The name of the other animal should be
written [Hebrew] _Zeblinatz_, by which are meant Sables. Jordanis had
before this called these skins _Sapphilinias pelles_.--_Forst_.

[1] Harris, I. 545. Forster, 91.

[2] So named as descended from Javan: the Jewish writers affecting to
employ scripture names for modern countries and nations.--E.

[3] Manuel Comnenes, who reigned from 1143 to 1180.--E.

[4] These names are corrupt orthographies of the Greek titles in the
Hebrew. Manuel being an emperor, Benjamin names all his great officers
kings.--E.

[5] Psianki may, perhaps, be Poland, and Buria Bavaria.--E.

[6] The Arabs, so called from their supposed ancestor, Ismael.--E.

[7] Perhaps Blachernae.--E.

[8] The Karaites were a sect among the Jews, who confined their observances
and religious belief to the precepts of Moses, while the Rabbinists
followed all the wild fancies of the Talmud. An excellent account of
these sects is to be found in the Lettres Juives, or Jewish Spy, by
the Marquis d'Argens.--E.

[9] Perhaps only an exaggerated account of some Jewish independent tribe in
Arabia, of which there were once a considerable number, as
particularly mentioned in the History of Mahomet.--E.

[10] Probably the Ahwaz, as he seems to have gone from Bassora.--E.

[11] This must be an error in the author, as the Tigris does not come near
that city.--E.

[12] This story is told by other Jewish writers, but with some unimportant
variations; and there have been many such pretended Messiahs, who
persuaded the Jews of the east into revolts, for which consult
Basnage, Histoire des Juifs.--Harris.

[13] The whole secret of this miracle may be easily explained. David
escaped from prison, and told all the rest of the story to the
ignorant and credulous Jews of Omaria, from whom the fable has been
handed down to Benjamin and other believing relaters.--E.

[14] Shiraz, about forty miles from which are the ruins of Persepolis.-