Within A Little It Began To Blow
Fair From The S.E. And We Set Sail Steering N.W. At
Eleven next morning,
we were upon the coast of the Stony Arabia, and soon sailed along its
shore, entering two
Hours before sunset into the port Toro or Al
Tor, which may be seen front the island of Sheduam, distant 12 leagues,
bearing N. by W. and S. by E.
[Footnote 311: Safanj-al-Bahr. In Arabic Safanj, Sofinj and
Isfanj, all signify Sponge, which is obviously derived from the
Arabic word. - Ast.]
[Footnote 312: Probably meaning that part of Arabia between the Gulf of
Suez and the Bahr-akkaba, called the promontory of Tor, of which Cape
Mahomed forms the S.W. extremity, - E.]
Toro or Al Tor was of old called Elana, as may be seen in the
writings of Ptolomy, Strabo, and other ancient writers, although our
observation of the latitude differs materially from theirs. But they
shew that Elana was situated in the most inward part of a very great
gulf, called Sinus Elaniticus[313], from the name of this place
Elana, and in lat. 29 deg.15' N. Now we know that Toro is in lat. 28 deg.10'
N.[314] and lies upon a very long and straight coast. The cause of this
great difference, if these places be the same, may have proceeded from
erroneous information given to Ptolomy and the other ancient
cosmographers. But that ancient Elana and modern Toro are the same,
appears from this, that from thence to Suez both on the Arabian and
Egyptian coasts of the Elanitic Gulf, not only is there no memorial or
remains of any other ancient town, and the barrenness of the country,
want of water, and rough craggy mountains, make it evident that in no
other place could there be any habitation. Hence, considering that
Ptolomy places Elana on the coast of Arabia Petrea, near adjoining to
mount Sinai, and makes no mention of any town between it and the City
of Heroes on the upmost extremity of the Elanitic Gulf where the sea
ends; and as on this shore of Arabia there is neither town, village, nor
habitation, coming so near the position assigned to Elana as Toro,
and as it is impossible to inhabit between Toro and Suez, it seems
just to conclude that Toro and Elana are the same place. The port of
Toro seems likewise that mentioned in holy writ under the name of
Ailan, where Solomon, king of Israel, caused the ships to be built
which sailed to Tarsis and Ophir to bring gold and silver for the
temple of Jerusalem: for taking away the second letter from Ailan, the
ancient names are almost the same. Nor is it reasonable that it should
be in any other place, as the timber for the navy of Solomon was brought
from Lebanon and Antelibanus; and to avoid expences they would
necessarily carry it to the nearest port, especially as the Jews then
possessed the region of Idumea, and that part of the coast of Arabia
Petrea which is between Toro and Suez.
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