12mo. [xcii], 482 pp., [1], pages 469-476 are 2 large folding tables, contemporary full calf, title gilt on raised decorated spine, edges rubbed, browning to pages, marbled endpapers, red edges, translated from the original German, Chez Jean Gottlieb Garbe, Frankfurt, first French edition, 1763.

Synopsis

Johann David Michaélis excelled in Semitic languages, and taught Arabic at the University of Göttingen. In 1761, he suggested to the King of Denmark to send a scientific mission to Southern Arabia. Michaélis raised a series of specific challenges in his “Fragen an eine Gesellschaft gelehrter Manner, die auf Befehl Ihro Majestat des Koniges von Dannemark nach Arabien reise” (Frankfurt, 1762; French translation 1763). Michaélis displayed an unprecedented degree of respect and tact by instructing the expedition members to behave with great politeness in Arabia and never to contradict Islam.
This is a collection of ninety-four essays on a variety subjects raised following the celebrated travels of Carsten Niebuhr and others to Egypt and Arabia, translated into French from the German. Subjects include Geography, Ornithology, Natural History, Commerce, Medicine and Leprosy, Agriculture, Precious metals, Circumcision, Religion, Snake venom, Linguistics, Astronomy and Gemstones.
Bibliographic reference: Chadenat, 1933.