BOOK THE SECOND.
Commences with an ardent wish, that as our forefather viewed the world clearly displayed before him in a vision, so we of these late days might be able, through the clouds of time, to look back upon the early ages of the globe; we might then see, in their splendour, Thebes, Edom, _et cet._; but the early history of mankind is obscure, the only certain light is from the sacred writings.

By these we are informed of the _dispersion_ of earth's first inhabitants, after the flood.

The descendants of HAM, after this dispersion, according to Bruce, having first gained the summits of the Ethiopian mountains, there form subterraneous abodes.

In process of time they descend, people Egypt, build Thebes; obscure tradition of the Ark; first make voyages.
Ophir is not long afterwards discovered.

This Bruce places, on most respectable authority, at Sofala; I have ventured to place it otherwhere, but still admitting one general idea, that when the way to it overland was attended with difficulties, an easier course was at last opened by sea.