which they stood. The primitive states of Egypt derived their origin from those very remote regions. Thebes and Meroë founded in common a colony in Libya; Ethiopian conquerors more than once invaded Egypt; Egyptian kings in return forced their way into Ethiopia; the same worship, the same manners and customs, the same mode of writing, are found in both countries. This intimate connection presupposes a permanent alliance, which could only have been formed and maintained by a long, peaceable, and friendly intercourse."

EUPHRATES, fruitful, or fructifying, or increasing, in Hebrew PHRAT or PHRATH, one of the most considerable and best known rivers of Asia, the waters of which surrounded the terrestrial Paradise, Gen. ii. 14, washed the walls of the mighty Babylon, and also fertilized the Hanging Gardens of that renowned city. It is designated the Great River in the Sacred record, and is mentioned as one of the boundaries of the Promised Land, Gen. xv. 18; Deut. xi. 24; 1 Chron. v. 9. It rises from three sources in the mountains of Armenia, the most distant of which is near Arze, the modern Arze-Roum, where it bears the name of Kara Sou-a title which, Porter assures us, is common to streams in Persia. Its second source is about thirty miles south of Arze, and is called the West Frat; and the third rises some miles to the east. The original stream is very inconsiderable, and all three flow south-westward in separate currents through many a wild glen and rich valley, until they unite in one channel at the foot of the mountains of Cappadocia nearly opposite the source of the Tigris; and thence, winding on in full stream south and south-west in a corresponding course to that of the Tigris, the Euphrates becomes by this accession of waters a very important river, and descends rapidly nearly west by south-west to the vicinity of Samosata, where the mountain range of Ananus prevents its further progress. It then turns to the south-east, which it pursues with little variation until it reaches Circesium, south of which it

enters the immense plains of Sennar. It then turns from the Arabian side, and runs again to the south-east, approaching its great tributary the Tigris. In proportion as these two rivers approximate to each other, the intermediate country loses its elevated appearance, and is composed of meadows and morasses. This is the Mesopotamia of Scripture, the Plain of Shinar, the Land of Chaldea, where Babylon, "the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency," reared its lofty walls, from the midst of which rose the mountain tower of Belus, the Babel of the "mighty hunter." The two rivers form a junction at Korna, and under the appellation Shat-el-Arab, or the River of Arabia, roll on in one noble flood to the Persian Gulf. It has three principal mouths, the southernmost of which is the deepest in its current. The tide rises above Bussorah, and even beyond Korna, and, sweeping with violence the descending stream, raises its waters in the form of frothy billows. It is noticed in different parts of the present work that the Euphrates entered the Gulf as a separate river from the Tigris. Its whole length, including the Shat-elArab, is nearly 1150 English miles, but it does not appear to be anywhere of very great breadth. Many towns and villages are on its banks. The entrance to the river is described as being extremely dangerous to the mariner, on account of the bars of sand which it forms continually changing their situation. Its navigation is no less difficult, and hence the expedition undertaken by the British Government for this purpose was abandoned in 1836, after various disasters and the death of some of its principal officers. See BABYLON and EDEN.

EXODUS, or The Departure. See EGYPT and ISRAELITes.

EZEL, going abroad, walk, or distillation, the name of a stone mentioned in 1 Sam. xx. 19.

EZION-GEBER, the wood of the man, or of the strong, or counsel of the man, or EZION-GABER, the name of one of the encampments of the Israelites in

the Wilderness, Numb. xxxiii. 35, and mentioned along with Elath, Deut? ii. 8. It stood on the coast of the Red Sea, though its exact situation is disputed, and it was either the rendezvous of King Solomon's navy, or where he built his vessels, 1 Kings ix. 26. As this place is generally placed in connection with Eloth-the port of the Edomites taken by David when he conquered Edom, and which

was long a place of considerable importance-Ezion-Geber appears to have been the naval station, while Eloth was the proper entrepôt of commercial enterprise. Ezion-Geber was on the eastern shore of the Red Sea called the Elanitic Gulf, from Eloth, Ailah, Æla, and Ælana, which stood at the head. A town succeeded the ancient Ezion-Geber called Aszyour, and also Berenice.