Travels in the countries between Alexandria and Paraetonium : the Lybian desert, Siwa, Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, in 1821 / by John Martin Augustus Scholz.

  • Scholz, J. Martin Augustin (Johann Martin Augustin), 1794-1852.
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels in the countries between Alexandria and Paraetonium : the Lybian desert, Siwa, Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, in 1821 / by John Martin Augustus Scholz. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    INTRODUCTION. The resolution to undertake a journey to the East, was the most prompt and the most fortunate that I ever took. Knowing that a party of learned travellers in- tended to visit Cyrene, Abyssinia, Arabia, Chaldea, and Assyria; and that Baron Niebuhr, Privy Counsellor of State, and especially General Baron Von Minn toll, v/ould provide the necessary means, I did not hesi- tate a moment to join them. What could in fact be more alluring, than the hope of seeing countries re- nowned in ancient times for their active, ingenious, and enlightened inhabitants ; to explore their remain- ing monuments, the view of which instructs us in their works and their character; to investigate the state of the country and of the present inhabitants, the know- ledge of wTich, is of such importance in the study of antiquity? I was, indeed, destitute of the necessary resources; but hope winged my steps, and fortune, which had attended me in my travels in southern Ger- V many, Switzerland, France, England, and Italy, smiled also on my present undertaking. The liberality of his Royal Highness Prince Henry, and that of the Consul General Bertoldi, supplied my pecuniary wants, and obliging individuals in the East, afforded me lite- rary assistance.