iterature_, pp. 100, 232.

B.H. Ascher.--_Choice of Pearls_ (with English translation,
London, 1859).

D. Rosin.--_Ethics of Solomon Ibn Gebirol_, _J.Q.R._,
III, p. 159.

BACHYA.

Graetz, III, p. 271.

YEDAYA BEDARESSI.

Graetz.--IV, p. 42 [45].

J. Chotzner.--_J.Q.R._, VIII, p. 414.

T. Goodman.--English translation of _Bechinath Olam_ (London, 1830).

ETHICAL WILLS.

Edelmann.--_The Path of Good Men_ (London, 1852).

I. Abrahams, _J.Q.R._, III, p. 436.

CHAPTER XX

TRAVELLERS' TALES

Eldad the Danite.--Benjamin of Tudela.--Petachiah of
Ratisbon.--Esthori Parchi.--Abraham Farissol.--David Reubeni
and Molcho.--Antonio de Montesinos and Manasseh ben
Israel.--Tobiah Cohen.--Wessely.

The voluntary and enforced travels of the Jews produced, from the
earliest period after the destruction of the Temple, an extensive, if
fragmentary, geographical literature. In the Talmud and later religious
books, in the Letters of the Gaonim, in the correspondence of Jewish
ambassadors, in the autobiographical narratives interspersed in the
works of all Jewish scholars of the Middle Ages, in the _Aruch_, or
Talmudical Lexicon, of Nathan of Rome, in the satirical romances of the
poetical globe-trotters, Zabara and Charizi, and, finally, in the Bible
commentaries written by Jews, many geographical notes are to be found.
But the composition of complete works dedicated to travel and
exploration dates only from the twelfth century.

Before that time, however, interest in the whereabouts of the Lost Ten
Tribes gave rise to a book which has been well called the Arabian Nights
of the Jews. The "Diary of Eldad the Danite," written in about the year
880, was a popular romance, to which additions and alterations were made
at various periods. This diary tells of mighty Israelite empires,
especially of the tribe of Moses, the peoples of which were all
virtuous, all happy, and long-lived.

"A river flows round their land for a distance of four
days' journey on every side. They dwell in beautiful houses
provided with handsome towers, which they have built
themselves. There is nothing unclean among them, neither in
the case of birds, venison, nor domesticated animals; there
are no wild beasts, no flies, no foxes, no vermin, no
serpents, no dogs, and, in general, nothing that does harm;
they have only sheep and cattle, which bear twice a year.
They sow an