Towards the end of his travels[33], Benjamin mentions that Prague in Bohemia is the beginning of Sclavonia.  In speaking of the Russian empire, he says it extends from the gates of Prague to the gates of [Hebrew] Phin, a large town at the beginning of the kingdom.  In that country the animals called [Hebrew] Wairegres, and [Hebrew] Neblinatz are found.  Interpreters disagree about the meaning of these words.  But it clearly appears that Phin is no other than Kiow, then the capital of the Russian empire; and we should therefore read [Hebrew:] Chiw:  and indeed the interpreters might easily have supposed that the word was wrong written, from its wanting the final nun.  Russia has always been famous for its gray foxes or gray squirrels, which, in the Russian language, are called [Hebrew] in the Hebrew text, therefore, of Benjamin, we should read [Hebrew] Waiwerges, which as nearly resembles the Russian word, as a Spanish Jew could possibly write it.  The name of the other animal should be written [Hebrew] Zeblinatz, by which are meant Sables.  Jordanis had before this called these skins Sapphilinias pelles.—­Forst.

[1] Harris, I. 545.  Forster, 91.

[2] So named as descended from Javan:  the Jewish writers affecting to
    employ scripture names for modern countries and nations.—­E.

[3] Manuel Comnenes, who reigned from 1143 to 1180.—­E.

[4] These names are corrupt orthographies of the Greek titles in the
    Hebrew.  Manuel being an emperor, Benjamin names all his great officers
    kings.—­E.

[5] Psianki may, perhaps, be Poland, and Buria Bavaria.—­E.

[6] The Arabs, so called from their supposed ancestor, Ismael.—­E.

[7] Perhaps Blachernae.—­E.

[8] The Karaites were a sect among the Jews, who confined their observances
    and religious belief to the precepts of Moses, while the Rabbinists
    followed all the wild fancies of the Talmud.  An excellent account of
    these sects is to be found in the Lettres Juives, or Jewish Spy, by
    the Marquis d’Argens.—­E.

[9] Perhaps only an exaggerated account of some Jewish independent tribe in
    Arabia, of which there were once a considerable number, as
    particularly mentioned in the History of Mahomet.—­E.

[10] Probably the Ahwaz, as he seems to have gone from Bassora.—­E.

[11] This must be an error in the author, as the Tigris does not come near
    that city.—­E.

[12] This story is told by other Jewish writers, but with some unimportant
    variations; and there have been many such pretended Messiahs, who
    persuaded the Jews of the east into revolts, for which consult
    Basnage, Histoire des Juifs.—­Harris.

[13] The whole secret of this miracle may be easily explained.  David
    escaped from prison, and told all the rest of the story to the
    ignorant and credulous Jews of Omaria, from whom the fable has been
    handed down to Benjamin and other believing relaters.—­E.