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:
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