PARADISE TERRESTRIAL. The Orientals think1, that the Terrestrial Paradise was in the Island of Serendib, or Ceilan; and that when Adam was drove out of Paradise, he was sent to the Mountain of Rakoun in the same Island, two or three Days Journey from the Sea. The Portuguese call this Mountain Pico de Adam, or the Mountain of Adam, because it is thought that this first of Men was buried under this Mountain, after he had lived in Repentance an Hundred and thirty Years.
The Mussulmen do not believe that the Paradise, in which Adam was placed after his Creation, was at all Terrestrial, but that it was raised up to one of the seven Heavens; and that it was from this Heaven that Adam was thrown down into the Island of Ceilan, where he died after having made a Pilgrimage into Arabia, where he visited the Place appointed for the building of the Temple of Mecca. They say also2, that when God created the Garden of Eden, he created there what the Eye had never seen, the Ear has never heard, and what has never entered into the Heart of Man to conceive. That this delicious Garden has eight Doors, whereas Hell has but seven, and that the Porters which have the Care of them are to let none enter before the Learned, who make a Profession of despising earthly Things, and of desiring those of Heaven.
The same Orientals reckon3 up four Paradises in Asia. First about Damascus in Syria. Secondly, about Obollah in Chaldæa. Thirdly, about the Desert of Naoubendigian in Persia, in a Place called Scheb-Baovan, watered by the Nilabe. And lastly in the Isle of Ceilan, or Serendib, of which we have spoke before.
We may perceive from hence, that the Opinion which places the terrestrial Paradise about Damascus, and near the Sources of the Jordan, is no novel Opinion, nor is it peculiar to European Writers. Heidegger in the Life of the Patriarchs, Mr. le Clerc, Father Abram, and Father Hardouin, both Jesuits, have maintained this Opinion. Father Hardouin has lately published his Hypothesis on this Subject in a copious Manner in his new Pliny; and he has owned to me, that he had much to object against it, and much to say in its Vindication. The Reader may consult this Author himself, for the Limits of this Dictionary do not allow me to enlarge too much on this Article.
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