are scattered oases of fruitful land, like islands in the ocean. These are delighfnl spots to the miserable Arab. Here he encamps, till he has consumed every thing, which the soil has produced, and then he ventures across the frightful desert to find another verdant field. Arabia Felix was bounded on the north by the two countries just described, on the south by the Red Sea; on the cast and west, by part of that sea, the Arabian and Persian gulfs. In this region are Mecca and Medina. The soil is excellent, producing balm of Gilead, manna, myrrh, cassia,aloes, frankincense, spikenard; also cinnamon, pepper, cardamum, oranges, lemons, pomegranites, figs, and other fruits. Its coffee and dates are the best in the world; here is but little wood, and few trees of timber. A stranger first reaching these shores would doubt the propriety of the name, given to the country; but as he advances into the central parts, the woods dropping balm, the verdure of the hills, the luxuries of the vales, the soft breezes of cassia, and other perfumes, with the fruits of every climate, inviting his taste, soon convince him that he is in Arabia the Happy. We have no certain account, when the above countries were first peopled; most probably, however, it was soon after the flood. The Oriental historians divide the Arabs into two classes, the old, lost Arabs, and the present. Concerning the former, nothing has come down. to us, but the names of several tribes, and a number of remarkable traditions. The present Arabs descended from Kahtan, the same as Joktan, the son of Eber, a descendant of Ishmael. Ishmael and his mother Hagar, having been dismissed from the family of Abram entered into the wilderness of Paran, (see Paran.) The sacred historian also informs us, that while he resided in the wilderness, he married an Egyptian woman. The Arabian writers say that he also married the daughter of Modad, king of Hejaz, lineally descended from Jorham, the founder of that kingdom. By the Egyptian, he was probably the father of the Scenites, or wild Arabs. The present inhabitants of the country are divided into such, as dwell in cities, and those who live in the fields. These last live in tents, in desert places, and are called Bedoweens, being much more honest than those in the cities. The Arabs are, also, divided into pagans and Mahometans. These last are the people, who have in days past conquered a great part of Asia, Africa, and Europe. These were the founders of the four great monarchies of the Turkish, Persian, Morocco, and Mogul empires. The Arabs have camels and the finest horses; in some parts are lions, tigers, wolves, bears, and jackalls. It is well known, that the Arabians put the greatest value on their horses. Of these they have two races, one of which are said to derive their origin from the studs of king Solomon. However this may be, they are capable of the greatest fatigues, and can pass whole days without food. They are said also to show astonishing courage in the field of battle, and it is even asserted, that when a horse of this race finds himself wounded and unable much longer to bear his rider, he retires from the field, and conveys him to a secure place. If the rider fall on the ground, Their mosques, like our his horse will remain with him, meeting houses, are buildings and neigh till assistance comes. for religious purposes; they are They are brought up in their square, and of stone, and much tents with the family, and are alike in all Mahometun councarefully tended, and as fondly tries. Before the great door is caressed, as their children. a court, paved with marble, The modern Arabs estimate having low galleries round it; their wealth, by the number of the roof is supported by marble their camels. Possessing these, pillars. These galleries are they want nothing, and fear nothing. If attacked by an enemy, the Arab flies fifty leagues into the desert with his camels; all the armies of Bonaparte, would perish in pursuit of him. The population of this country is very uncertain; some learned writers have supposed it to be 17,000,000. The heat of this country, as in Turkey, and all over Arabia, makes it pleasant for the inhab itants to sleep in the open air. Hence their houses, which are generally but one story high, are flat on the top. This practice may account for the early knowledge these nations obtained of astronomy, and explain several passages of scripture. The different rooms of their houses have no communication, excepting with the hall. Their kitchens and office houses are separate from the mansion house. Their furniture consists chiefly of carpets; their beds are two thick cotton quilts. places of ablution, before the people enter the mosque. Near every mosque are six high towers, or steeples, called minarets, each of which has three little open galleries, one above another. These steeples and mosques, are covered with lead, and adorned with gilding, and other ornaments. From these, the people are called to prayer, not by a bell, but by officers appointed for the purpose. Near most of the mosques is the tomb of the founder, and a place of entertainment for strangers, with apartments for prayer and reading the Koran. No man is allowed to enter a mosque without pulling off his shoes and stockings. Women are never allowed to enter these sacred buildings. In former times the Arabs were celebrated for their progress in the sciences; but they, are now far from being a learned people. Yet education is not entirely neglected. Many of the common people learn to read and write. Girls are instructed apart by women. In the chief cities are colleges for astronomy, medicine, philosophy, and astrology. In Arabia the knowledge of medicine is at a low ebb. The Arabians inherit the land of their fathers, the first proprietors of the country. It was prophesied in scripture that they should be invincible, and though apparently a de fenceless people, they have never been subdued by any invader. Their millions of inhabitants are so many witnesses for the truth of revelation. Every man's hand is against them, and theirs against every man's, yet they shall dwell securely among their brethren. The body of the nation has escaped the yoke of the most powerful monarchies. The arms of Sesostris and Cyrus, of Pompey and Cæsar, of Trajan and Bonaparte, have never achieved the conquest of Arabia. The present sovereign of the Turks may exercise a shadow of jurisdiction; but his pride is reduced to solicit the friendship of a people, whom it is dangerous to provoke, and fruitless to attack. Their domestic fueds, are suspended on the approach of a common enemy; and in their last hostilities, against the Turks the caravan of Mecca was attacked and pillaged by four score thousand of the confederates. When they advance to battle the hope of victory is in the front; and in the rear, the as surance of retreat. Their horses and camels, which in eight or ten days can perform a march of four or five hundred miles, ARA disappear before the conqueror; the secret waters of the desert elude his search, and his victorious troops are consumed with hunger, thirst, and fatigue, in pursuit of an invincible foe, who scorns his efforts, and safely reposes in the heart of the burning solitude. The Arabs are robbers on the land, and pirates on the sea; they have this character from the sands of Morocco to the shores of Madagascar, from the banks of the Indus to the plains of Gambia, yet they are remarkable for their hospitality. They were the most ancient civilized people. The merchants of Tyre had explored the Islands Britain, before the Chinese had discovered Japan. When the literati of India or China can show us a volume as ancient as the writings of Moses, they may with more confidence boast of their high antiquity. The Arabs are in general Ma. hometans, some of them are Pagans. This country was the birth place of Mahomet; he taught the necessity of believing in God, the existence of angels, the resurrection, and future judgment, and the doc. trine of absolute decrees. The duties which he enjoined were prayer five times a day, fasting, charity, and a pilgrimage to Mecca. Their religion forbids they cast away ineir garments; seven times with hasty steps they encircled the temple of Mecca; built as they said by Abram and Ishmael, and kissed the black stone which they believed was brought from heaven by Gabriel; seven times they visited and adored the adjacent mountains; seven times they threw stones into the valley of Mina, and the pilgrimage was then concluded, as at the present day, by a sacrifice of sheep and camels, and the burial of their hair and nails in consecrated ground. The temple was adorned or defiled, with 360 idols of men, eagles, lions, and antelopes. Most conspicuous was the statue of Hebal, of red agate, holding in his hand seven arrows without heads or feathers, the instruments and figures of profane divination. The devotion of the ruder ages was content with a pillar or a tablet, and the rocks of the desert, were hewn into gods or altars in imitation of the black stone at Mecca. From Japan to Peru, all round the globe, the use of sacrifices has prevailed, and the votary nas expressed his gratitude or his fear by destroying or consuming in honor of the gods, the most precious of their gifts. The life of man is the most precious oblation to deprecate any calamity, therefore the altars of Phoenicia and Egypt, of Rome and Carthage, have been polluted with human gore. The Arabs long continued the practice. In the third century, a boy was annually sacrificed by the tribe of the Dumatians; and a royal captive was impiously slaughtered by the prince of the Saracens. The father of Mahomet himself, was devoted to the altar by a rash vow, and with difficulty ransomed by a hundred camels. The Arabs, like the Jews, abstain from swine's flesh, and circumcise their children. The Banians are a sect tolerated here. They profess to love very thing, which breathes, to assist every thing, which is in pain, to abhor the spilling of blood, and to abstain from food, which has enjoyed life. Milk, butter, cheese, rice, and vegetables, are their only food. By their dress, which is a white robe, and rose colored turban, they are known to the birds, which instead of flying, flock round them to be fed. The Europeans trust them to do all their business with the Arabs, and they are always found honest. Mecca is the principal city, and is supported by the resort of pilgrims, 70,000 of whom, visit the place every year. The buildings are mean. It is 34 miles from Judda. Lat. 21,45; long. 40,55 east. It is an inland town surrounded by hills, a day's journey from the Red Sea. On one of the hills is a cave, where they suppose Mahomet retired for his devotions, and where he received the Koran from Heaven, brought by Gabriel. It is the holy city of Mahometans; no Christian is allowed to enter it. The temple of Mecca has 42 doors, and is said to be nearly 670 yards in length, and 570 in breadth. In the centre is a paved court, on all sides of which are cells, for those who consecrate themselves to a life of devotion. The Caaba, in the middle of the temple, is 20 paces square, and 24 feet high, covered with rich silk, and the centre is adorned with large letters of gold. The door is covered with plates of silver, before it is a curtain thick with gold embroidery. This sacred Caaba is the principal object of the pilgrim's devotion, and is open but two days in six weeks, one for the men, and one for the women. Its walls are marble, |