Arabia

Sources from old books

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome

ARABIA, which may be consider∣ed in

• LAND, with its three Parts, as they lie
  • Between the RED-SEA, and Gulph of BALSERA and ORMUS; as, HYAMAN, GEMEN, or ARABIA the HAPPY.
    • Medina,
    • Chaibar,
    • Algiar,
    • Egra,
    • Soquia,
    • Mecca,
    • Ziden,
    • Nageran,
    • Dhafar,
    • Magara,
    • Zerzer,
    • Cubid,
    • Gilan,
    • Zibith,
    • Sanaa,
    • Mechlaf Atherda,
    • Aden,
    • Abin,
    • Odeida,
    • Laghi,
    • Almacharama,
    • Saada,
    • Fartach,
    • Agiaz,
    • Caxem,
    • Gubit,
    • Dolfar,
    • Pescher,
    • Nerbante,
    • Guebelhaman,
    • Alibinali,
    • Calhar,
    • Cor,
    • Tybi,
    • Dayma,
    • Curiac,
    • Spalheiro,
    • Cueva,
    • Cerique,
    • Hor,
    • Calajaoe,
    • Mascates,
    • Sohar,
    • Orfacan,
    • Doba,
    • Mocandon,
    • Mirabat,
    • Masfa,
    • Syr, or Sour,
    • Mascalat,
    • Jemen,
    • Zirisdin,
    • Lalach,
    • Elcatif,
    • Bahar,
    • Ahso,
    • Manabon,
    • Fararan,
    • Jamama,
    • Borani.
  • Near PALESTINE, or the HOLY LAND; as, BARRAAB, or ARABIA the STONY,
    • Madian,
    • Medava,
    • Sur,
    • Thara,
    • Herat, of old Petras,
    • Moab,
    • Bussereth,
    • St. Catherine.
  • Near CHALDEA, and the EUPHRATES; as, BERIARA, or ARABIA the DESART,
    • Anna,
    • Mexat-Ali,
    • Mexat Ocem,
    • Sumiscasac,
    • Sukana,
    • Faraa,
    • Kadhema,
    • Anna,
    • Abadon,
    • Tangia,
    • Thaalabia,
    • Remala,
    • Maaden Alnocra.
• ISLES ad∣jacent, as they lie
  • In the PERSIAN GULPH, or GULPH of BALSORA, and ORMUS; as,
    • Baharem, Manama.
    • Oulximi.
    • Cori.
    • Tome.
    • Andrani.
    • Quaro.
  • In the SOUTHERN OCEAN; as,
    • Mazira, Mazira.
    • Curia.
    • Muria.
  • In the RED-SEA, or Sea of MECCA; as,
    • Tincce.
    • Camaran, Camaran.
    • Decor.
    • Zaiban.
    • Turach.
    • Muchi.
    • Monte Marzoan.
    • Genaman.
    • Chifale.
    • Cajas.

ARABIA.

• 1.1ARABIA hath for its Eastern Limits, the Persian Gulph and Chal∣dea; for its Southern, the Ocean; for its Western, the Red Sea and some part of Egypt; and for its Northern Limits, the River Euphrates, together with some part of Palestine.

Arabia, hath been well known both to the Ancients, and at present. They commonly divided it into three parts: Baraab,* 1.2 or Arabia the Stony, which lies near the Holy Land; Berjara, or Arabia the Desart, near to Chaldea and the Euphrates; Hyaman, or Gemen, or Arabia the Hap∣py, which advances it self between the Red-Sea, which separates it from Afri∣ca and the Gulph of Ormus, which divides it from Persia, into the Indian O∣cean. And this part is the greatest, the richest, and best inhabited of all.

• 1.3Arabia the Stony hath for its chief places, 1. Petra, now called Herat, which signifies a Rock, whereon it was built with an advantagious scituation; a place of great strength, and much noted as well in prophane History as Holy Writ. 2. Bostra, now called B•sesereth, rebuilt after its former Ruins by Au∣gustus Caesar; a City of great Antiquity, and memorable for being the Birth-place of Philip, one of Alexanders Successors, who was the first of the Ro∣mans Emperours which embraced Christianity. 3. Medava, now Moab, ac∣cording to the Translation of the Septuagint; and being so, the name may be taken from Moab, Son of Lots eldest Daughter, from whence the Moabites descended, of whom mention is made in the Old Testament. 4. Berenice, so named from an Aegyptian Queen, but better known by the name of Esion-Geber; here it was that the Children of Israel did encamp; where also those Ships employed by Solomon to Ophir, did make their ordinary Harbour. 5. Sur, one of the chief Cities of the Amalekites, giving name to a Wilder∣ness there adjacent, remarkable for the great Victory which Saul gave the Amalekites, where also the Children of Israel first encamped after their passage through the Red Sea. 6. Thara, where Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, were punished: And, 7. Madian, seated towards the Red Sea, being the City of Jethro, whose Daughter Zipporah, Moses took to wife.

• 1.4Besides these Cities there are some others, yet the Country is for the most part Desart, and is the same where the Children of Israel wandred 40 years; there, where then inhabited the Moabites, Amalekites, Midianites, Idumae∣ans, and others; there, where are the Mountains of Sinai and Horeb. The Israelites being in these Desarts, lay a whole year near this Mountain, and du∣ring that time Moses received from God the Decalogue, dedicated the Taber∣nacle, ordained a High Priest, Priests and Levites, and established Ecclesiasti∣cal and Political Laws. There is at present a Monastery of St. Katherine, built by Justinian,; and all sorts of Pilgrims are received by the Caloyers, that is, Religious Greeks which inhabit there. The Burning Bush, in which God appeared to Moses, was near Mount Horeb. The Rock which Moses struck to have Water, was of this Mount; and likewise on this Mountain it was that Moses besought God for the Israelites against the Amalekites: also Mount Hor, bordering on Idumea, where Aaron died.

On the Coast of the Red Sea is the Castle Tor, a Borough or Walled Town, and a Port very famous, where it is believed, that the Israelites having passed the Red Sea, entred the Desarts this way: And it is likewise a great Passage, where the Caravans stop at their return from Mecca.

• 1.5ARABIA the Desart, so called by reason of the vast Sandy Desarts; and the uninhabitableness thereof, scarce affording either food for Man or Beast; so that those which travel this Country are forced to carry with them their Provision, and guide themselves to the place design'd by the help of Stars, as they do at Sea; and are forced to go in great Companies or Caravans, for fear of being robbed and rifled by the wild Arabs (who here inhabit in Tents, which they remove as occasion serveth from place to place, either for fresh Pa∣sture, or otherwise,) and yet much travelled by Merchants, who Trade into Babylonia, Egypt, and elsewhere. Some Authors have observed in the course of their Trade, that the Sandy Desarts are their Seas, the wild Arabs their Pirates, and their Camels their Ships; each Camel carrying 600 or 1000 pound weight.

• 1.6The People are much addicted to Theft, by which they get their chief li∣ving, being stout and warlike Men, and not Tilling the Earth, and planting Fruits, Plants, or the like; their chief food being Venison, Milk, Fowls, and Herbs. They go half naked; their Wives they hire for what time they please, who in way of a Portion bring a Tent and a Spear to their Husbands. Both Sexes are much given to Carnal lusts, and when Women are delivered of a Child, they leave it without troubling themselves with it.

• 1.7There are found in Arabia the Desart two Cities of the name of Anna or Anua, one on the Euphrates, and the other on the River Astan, not far from the Gulph of Balsora: this last is least famous; the other is the most conside∣rable of the Province, seated both on the one and the other Bank of the Eu∣phrates; but the greatest part and the richest is on the Arabian side. There is in all about 4000 Houses, which have been much ruined in the late Wars be∣tween the Turks and Persians. The City contains divers Isles, on one of which is a Castle. At Suskanna, a Borough upon the great Road between Anua and Aleppo, Texera saith, That the Women are as fair as Angels; if he had like∣wise said as wise, and had spoken truth, all Men from the four Corners of the World had been obliged to go to seek them. 3. Mexat Ali, that is, the Ora∣tory of Ali, had once 6 or 7000 Houses, when the Sect of Ali bore sway in those quarters: there remains at present not above 500 Inhabitants. 4. Mexat Ocem, that is, the Oratory of Ocem, is not walled, nor hath above 4000 Houses. Saba, now Simiscasac, according to the opinion of Guillandin, is the place from whence the Three Wise-men departed to go to Bethlem, to adore the Saviour of the World.

This Arabia the Desart, according to some, hath divers Lords, which com∣mand it, and which for the most part are Vassals or Tributaries to the Great Turk; who holds likewise a part. But these People being more inclined to the Mahometan Sect of Ali, which is that of the Persians, than to that of Omaz, which is that of the Turks, are more affectionate to the Persians than to the Turks; and some of these Lords likewise hold of the Persians.

Others give all Arabia the Desart to one King, and will have the City, or rather the Court of that Prince, to have a wonderful disposition and scituation; and that the Prince can make it all a March or Walk when and as often as he pleases, which is still by going thither where they may best find food for their Horses and Camels; and they say, that the place being chosen, they dispose the Quarters and Streets after the ordinary manner: and at the same time pitch all the Tents; that of the Prince in the midst, and the others about al∣waies in the same fashion; that part which is towards the North, South, East, or West never changing. And the Quarters and Streets have their Names and their Tents in the same form; insomuch that who once knows the order, may easily find any which inhabit therein.

This moving City, or rather this Court Errant, contains not only the Militia of the Prince, which are above 2000 Men, but likewise a great number of their Nobility, Merchants, Artizans, and divers Strangers which follow this Court.

• 1.8ARABIA the Happy is a great Peninsula, which stretcheth it self from the Mountains which divide it from the other two parts of Arabia to the O∣cean, being 3, 4, and in some places 500 Leagues long and broad. The Gulph of Balsora, and Ormus, otherwise the Persian Gulph, washes it on the left side; the Red Sea, or Sea of Mecca, otherwise the Arabian Gulph on the right; and the Oriental or Indian Ocean, which is there called the Sea of Arabia on the Front.

• 1.9Arabia the Happy may aptly be so called by reason of the fruitfulness and richness of the Soil, which produceth plenty of Corn, Wine, Fruits, Odorife∣rous Spices, great increase of Cattle; also abounding in Gold, Pearls, Balsom, Myrrhe, Frankinsence, several sorts of Drugs, together with divers useful and beneficial Commodities. Also seated in an exceeding healthful and tem∣perate Climate, and inriched with many pure and pleasant Streams and Foun∣tains, whose Waters are Medicinal.

• 1.10These People are very faithful and punctual in their Promises, boasting of their Nobility, as being descended from Jupiter; hating any base or mecha∣nical Art, but applying themselves, some to grasing of Cattle, and others to Merchandize. Here it is held Adultery for a Man to enjoy any Woman, save those of his own Kin, as his Sisters, Mother, Cousins, and the like; whom also they take as Wives. Here in this Country are great quantities of Ostriches, which for the most part abide in the Desarts.

The Ancients mentioned a great number of different People, Cities, and Kingdoms; and we at this day find the same. The Turks possess one part, the Persians another, but much less than the Turks. The Sultan, or Xecque or Mecca, another; and divers Princes, People, and some Republicks, the rest.

• 1.11Its chief Cities towards the Red Sea are, Medina, or Medina-Elnabi, or Talnabi, that is, the City of the Prophet; and Mecca: this last the Birth-place, that the Burial-place of Mahomet. Medina, though scituated in a bar∣ren and desolate place, adjoyning on Arabia the Stony; yet by reason of its being the Sepulchre of that vile Impostor Mahomet, is become a fair City (though not containing above 6000 Houses) being a place of great Trade and resort, by reason of the Pilgrims which hither flock to pay their blind Devotion. This Sepulchre or Tomb, wherein their Prophet lieth,* 1.12 is enclosed within an Iron-Grate, and covered with Green Velvet, having the supply of a new one every year from the Grand Signior, and the old one being the Fees of the Priests, they cut into little shreds and pieces, which they fell for great Relicks to the Pilgrims, which brings a great Revenue to them. In this Tem∣ple there are about 3000 Lamps of Gold and Silver, wherein is Balsom, and other such rich Odours, Oyntments, and Oils, which are continually kept burning. Thus much for his Tomb: now a word or two concerning his Life.

He was (as I said before) born at Mecca, distant from Medina about 60 Leagues, seated also in a barren Soil; but of great resort and Traffick, abound∣ing in the Commodities of Persia and India, which from hence are trans∣ported on Camels to Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and other parts of the Turks Dominions. The City is very fair, filled with about 6 or 7000 well built Houses, having a very sumptuous Temple; the place not Walled, except by Mountains, between which there are four passages, which give entrance and issues to the City. Here it is made death for any Christian to approach within five miles. But to proceed:* 1.13 The Father of this Impostor was an Idolatrous Pagan, and his Mother as perverse a Jewess; at the age of two years he was left to the tuition of his Uncle, who after he had kept him to the age of 16 years, to quit himself of further charge and trouble, sold him to the Ish∣maelites, who in their Markets sold him again to a rich Merchant; who at first was employed about servil work, till at last the Merchant perceiving him to be of so ripe a wit and solid judgment, advanced him from his Kitchin to be his Factor, sending him with his Camels laden with Merchandize, into Egypt, Persia, Syria, and other places; in which he was so fortunate, that he gained his Master a great Estate, together with no small fame and credit to himself. He was of personage low, but comly, with which his Mistress was so much taken, that upon the death of her Husband, his Master, she soon married him, and endowed him with her wealth. He was much troubled with the Falling-sickness, which he said were Heavenly raptures, in which he had conversion with the Angel Gabriel; he was well skill'd in Magick, by which he taught a white Pigeon which he kept to feed at his Ear, where he put Barly-corns; and this Pigeon he reported was the Holy Ghost, which instructed him in the Law he afterwards published, which was a new Religion, whereby he might bring the Jews, Gentiles, and Christians into one form of Religion; where, in a Cave not far from Mecca, with the help of Sergius a Nestorian Monk, and the aid of a certain Jew, he made the Alcoran; a Book so highly adored by them, that on the Cover is written, Let none that are unclean touch this Book, 3. Ziden, seated on the Red Sea, and in the midst of all the Coast of Arabia, serves for a Port to Mecca, from which it is distant 40 miles; well built, rich, and of great resort, which hath been walled and fortified since the Portugals have made themselves known, and are become powerful in the East. 4. Egra, by the Arabians called Algier; seated on the Red Sea, serving for a Port-Town to Medina, from which it is distant about three days Journey.

Mecca, Medina, and a good part of Arabia the Happy doth belong to Xeriff, descended from Hascem, great Grandfather to Mahomet, and for this reason both the Turks and Persians do much respect him, suffering him freely to enjoy his Estates without his paying Tribute to either: for on the contrary, the Turk causeth to be given him a third part of the Revenues of Egypt, that the Pilgrims which go to Mecca may be protected against the Arabs Beduins, who by their incursions much trouble those quarters; and not only Pilgrims, but likewise Emperours, Kings, and Mahometan Monarchs, often make him great Presents. 5. Zibit, near the Mouth of the Red Sea, is fair, rich, well built, and of a good Trade in Drugs, Spices, Perfumes, &c. It was once the Seat of a Kingdom till the Turk seized it, when he did Aden, causing the King of this place to be hanged at the Yards-arm of his Ship, and the others head to be strucken off. Seated nigh the Red Sea in a large Plain, being the residence of the Turkish Beglerbeg.* 1.14 6. Aden is the strongest, fairest, and most pleasant City of all Arabia, enclosed with Walls towards the Sea, and Mountains to∣wards the Land. On the top of these Mountains are many Castles of a curious prospect; it hath about 6000 well built Houses, and inhabited by a miscellany of People, as Arabians, Turks, Indians, Persians, and Ethiopians, which here reside for the benefit of that great Trade, which is here driven from several parts of the World. It is scituate without the Red Sea, at the beginning of the great Ocean, and by the industry of the Inhabitants is made an Island, fortified with a strong Castle, which commands the Road. This City or Island is now become the Magazine for the Commodities of India, Persia, and Arabia.

• 1.15Above Aden, and farther in the main Land, are many fair Cities, as Laghi, Agiaz, Almachazane, Sanaa, and others, subject to the Xecque of Mecca. Laghi is not far from the Sea; Agiaz, or Hagias, sometime gave its name to these quarters. Almachazane is seated on the top of a very high Mountain, and of a difficult access; it hath a Cistern capable to hold Water to furnish a 100000 Men: The Xecque ofttimes keeps Court here. Sane, or Sanaa, stands at the foot of a Mountain, and is one of the greatest, fairest, and strongest of Arabia, having many Vineyards, Meadows, and Gardens within its Circuit. Its Houses are well built, its Vineyards and Gardens well cultivated, its Walls 10 Cubits high, and its Ramparts 20 Cubits thick. Its Territory is watered with many Fountains, produceth excellent Fruits, and feeds the best Horses of Arabia.

• 1.16Towards the East, and almost 150 Leagues from Aden, is Fartach, a King∣dom and City near the Sea, and having a Cape of the same name. The Tar∣quins are valiant, and their King defends himself couragiously against the Turks, having seen their treatment to his Neighbours of Aden and Zibit. The Ports of Dolfar, (which is the Turks) and Pescher, are the most renowned of this Coast, and send forth the best Frankinsence of Arabia in great quan∣tity. Higher on the Coast, and farther on the Land, are the Cities and King∣doms, or as they call them, the Sultanies of Gubel haman, Alibmahi, Ama∣zirifden, and others.

• 1.17The rest of the Coast unto Cape de Raz-al-gate is very barren; from Cape de Raz-al-gate unto that of Moccandon, the Soil is the best of all Arabia; and some would here alone confine the name of Hyaman, which signifies Hap∣py. There are here many fair Cities, both on the Sea-coast and higher in the Land; one of chief Traffick between the East and Arabia the Happy, was formerly called Sohar; but this Trade was after transported to Ormus on the Persian side. In our time it was restored to the Arabian side, to wit, at Mas∣cates held by the Portugals: Sohar and Mascates are between the Capes of Raz-al-gate, and Moccandon, and are not above 20 Leagues distant from each other. Within the Land are Masfa, a City and Kingdom, Mirabat, Sour, or Lyr, and others.

Beyond the Cape Moccandon, and advancing towards the Mouths of the Ti∣gris and Euphrates, among many other places we have Elcatif, or El-Catif, a famous Port, and which communicates its name to the adjacent Gulph, which the ancients called Sinus Bersicus, and we at present the Gulph of Bal∣sora and Ormus.

Near Elcatif is Bahar, whose Territory is called Bahareim, or Baharem; and the Isle and City before Baharem, farther in the land, is Mascalat, a City and Kingdom; Jemen, likewise a Kingdom and: City, according to some; Lazach, or Lassach, likewise a Kingdom and City; where are of the best Horses of Arabia, as at Sanaa. Lassach, Elcatif, and some other are the Turks; Elcatif is the ancient Gerra, and that part of the Gulph nearest the City called Gerraticus Sinus, and the Isle of Barem is the ancient Tylos.

There yet remains some Cities, of which some have their Kings or Sul∣tans▪ others live in Republick, which is very rare in Asia.* 1.18 Towards the mid∣dle of Arabia are the Arabs Bengebres, a free People, and which live only of the Prey and Tribute they force from their Neighbours; yet possess they 200 or 250 Leagues of Country, and are for the most part in the Mountains. The Beduins towards Mecca are of the same nature.

Bound about Arabia are a great number of Isles which belong unto it, which are dispersed either in the Southern Ocean, Red Sea, or the Persian Gulph.

• 1.19In the Southern Ocean are found three Isles, which bear the name of COCCONATI, seven by the name of ZENOBII, and two by the name of Insulae AGATHOCLIS; and lastly, CƲRIA and MƲRIA, where there is found white Tortoises, whose Shells are great curiosities.

• 1.20In the Red Sea these Islands; 1. CANARAN, very hot, but fruitful. 2. DALAQƲA, being the largest of all, in length 125 miles, and not above 12 broad, having a City of the same name, where they gather Pearls; And, 3. and lastly, the Samaritan Islands.

• 1.21In the Persian Gulph these Islands are found: BAHAREM, the most fa∣mous, because it hath the Pearl-fishing, the best in the Oriental parts. This Isle is between Balsora and Ormus, about a 100 or 120 Leagues from Balsora, and 150 from Ormus: It is near the Coast of Arabia, and directly opposite to the Coast of Elcatif, which is the Turks; but the Isle of Baharem, which is still the Persians, once belonged to the Kingdom of Ormus. The Waters here are almost all salt; but near Manama, the Capital City of the Island, there are Springs of Fresh-water at the bottom of the Sea, which the Divers go and fetch, gathering it into Borracho's or Goats-skins, with much cunning, and bringing it forth of the Sea, do afterwards sell it. The Pearls of this Isle are very much esteemed, both for their largeness and roundness; and this fishing is yearly worth 500000 Ducats, besides the value of 100000 and more, which is diverted. Those of the Isle of GIONFA are of no great value: those of the other neighbouring Isles are less; except it be at MASCATES, 60 Leagues from Ormus. They fish here all June, July, and August; if they begin sooner the Pearls are unripe, and not hard enough.

The Air of all Arabia is very healthful, but not; nor Rains it in some places above twice or thrice in 3 or 4 years: but the abundance of the Dew makes their Fruits excellent.

• 1.22The People for the most part are of a mean stature, lean, swarthy complexi∣oned, effeminate voices, very swift of foot, and expert in the Bow and Dart. They first exercise themselves in Manufactures, using all sort of Trade and Traffick far off; and some addict themselves to Learning, particularly to Phi∣losophy, Physick, the Mathematicks, and to Astrology; there have been amongst them many Grammarians, Rhetoricians, Historians, and Interpreters of the Alcoran, which is in their Tongue, and which hath made the Arabick Lan∣guage spread itself through all the East, at least in the most Southerly parts of Asia, and part of Africa, but little in Europe.

Those which range the Country are great Wanderers, and greater Thieves; they are divided into many Families, which know each other, and how to di∣stinguish the one from the other. Every Family, how numerous soever it be, hath a principal Xecque, that is, a Chief, which conducts and commands them, they living almost in the same manner as the 12 Tribes of Israel did in the Desarts: They preserve a good Intelligence amongst themselves, their chief design being only upon Strangers. They assault likewise the Caravans, if they think themselves able enough to master them, or snatch any thing from them.

Their Horses commonly are little, lean, and sparing Feeders; yet couragious, swift, and of great labour: They are so skilful in managing them, that they command them as they please; and themselves are so active, that at full speed they will shoot an Arrow within the breadth of a Shilling, take from the ground those Arrows they have shot, and avoid an Arrow flying directly to∣wards them; nor do they manage less skilfully the Sling, either in charging, retiring, or flying.

• 1.23Mahomet came not into the World till about the year 570 after Christ, and began not to publish and shew abroad his Doctrine till a little after the year 600; a Doctrine intermixed with Christianity, Judaism, and Paganism, that he might draw both the one and the other; and which established its principal end in Delights, carnal and sensual Pleasures, whereto the Oriental People were very much inclined; and withal he found the means to make use of Arms for the establishment of this Doctrine; his Califs or Successors in a short time carried their Government and Religion into the best parts of Asia and Africa, and into some places of Europe.

Its People are almost all Mahometans. There are some Greek Christians to∣wards the Mounts of Sinai and Horeb; likewise towards the Red Sea, and in the Desarts of Arabia the Stony, and Arabia the Desart. Arabia the Happy is unhappy in having the fewest; yet the Portugals hold Mascates, Calasates, and some places about it, which are Catholicks.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

THe Arabians have been first of all called Ismaelites, from Ismael, and afterwards Saracens: some derive this last Name from Saara, which signifies Desart; others from Sarake, which imports Pilfering and Robbing: those, who make the Etymology come from Sarah Abraham's Wife, say, that these Sara∣cens, who were begun to be called Hagarens, chose rather to go under the Name of the Mi∣stress, than that of the Maid. The Arabians, who inhabit Towns and Cities, are known un∣der the Name of Moors: those in the Desarts, are divided into Tribes, and each Tribe into Families, which have each a peculiar Cheique, under the Cheique-General of the Tribe, called Sceikel-Kebir, that is to say, the Grand Cheique. These vagabond Arabians boast themselves to be the most noble People in the World; where∣fore they do not ally themselves with any other Nations, than their own. They could never be subdued, either by the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, or Turks. They have esta∣blish'd themselves in several parts of Africa, where they possess great Dominions. They thus stray and wander for the better finding wherewith to feed their Cattel, and to exempt themselves from the oppression of the Turks. The Grand Seignior's Bashaws, who are neigh∣bours to 'em, and the Caravans, who pass through their Territories, give some Money to the Grand Cheiques, that they may not be mo∣lested. Under Ʋlit, one of the Caliphs or Ara∣bian Princes, their Empire extended in aright line from Messa, upon the Atlantick-Sea, to the River Indus; this length was the bigness of all Persia, greater than the Roman Empire. The Arabick Tongue is receiv'd in the greatest part of Asia, because that the Alcoran, the Bible of Mahometism, was first of all written in that Lan∣guage. The continual abode which the Ara∣bians make in the open field, has made them the best acquainted with Astrology and Physick. The Beduins, and Bengebres, who are the People the most known, are so inclin'd to Robbery, that they make their principal Revenue consist in stealing from Travellers; and say, that they have right to repeat the legitimas of their Pre∣decessour Ismael, upon the Descendants of Isaac. They say also, that their Prophet Mahomet, has particularly left and recommended to 'em, the figure of the hand: for which reason other Nations come only among 'em in Caravans; that is to say, in great companies. Their dexteri∣ty is wonderful in managing a Horse, a Bow, and a Zagay, which is a Half-Pike: thirty Turks with Muskets, make a difficulty of attack∣ing ten of these Arabians arm'd after their usual manner. Their Riches consist in Flocks, Herds, and Horses, which are capable of going great Journeys. They set so great a value upon them, that they keep Registers of their Race, which are from time to time approv'd of by the Judges. Horses of the most noble, and com∣monly Mares, are sometimes sold for three or four thousand Piasters. The Arabians eat their Meals crouching upon their Heels, whereas the Turks eat upon Cushions cross-legg'd: the oldest among 'em wear the finest Cloaths, and the gaudiest Colours. Their Predecessours prohibited Buildings, and the tilling of Lands; for that those who stood possess'd of great stocks, if they meant to enjoy 'em, were easily constrain'd to obey them, who aim'd at subdu∣ing 'em. They made also that Member of the Noble Race, Successour of the Kingdom, who came first into the World, after the proclaim∣ing of the King. In the comparison of the Manners and Maximes of the Levantine Nations, with those of Europe, the Arabians are made to resemble the Italians; the Persians, the French; the Turks, the Spaniards.

Arabia in general, is subject to such great heats, that they are constrain'd to keep the Markets by night. There is a great number of Mountains, and few Rivers. It is divided into three parts, Petraea, Deserta, and Foelix: the two former is almost wholly in the possession of the Turks; Arabia Foelix has several petty Sove∣reigns.

Arabia Petraea was inhabited by the Madia∣nites, Moabites, Amalekites, and Idumeans; Nations of whom mention is often made in the Holy Oracles. Its Inhabitants pay Tribute to the Bashaw of Cairo. Crac, otherwise Mon∣treal, formerly call'd Petra, has communicated to it its Name: Busseret is the Countrey of Phi∣lip the Roman Emperour, who is said to have embrac'd Christianity. Tor, upon the Red-Sea, is a Port defended by a four-square Castle. There are in the places adjacent found petrified Mushrooms, white Corral, Chagrin, small Oysters, and sometimes Sea-men, or such people as are bred and live in the Sea. 'Tis said, the Red-Sea is but three Leagues broad in that place, and that the Children of Israel pass'd it over there dry-shod, when they came out of Aegypt; that it was one of the Ports, from whence Solomon sent his Fleets into Ophir, to fetch Gold. Pegs of Wood are put into the Ships of the Places, that belong to this Sea, because little Iron is to be found there. Those, who have a mind to impose, Talk as that, if they made use of Iron Nails, instead of Pegs, the Ships would be attacked and stopp'd by the Loadstone, that is found in the neighbouring Mountains. Mount Oreb is famous in the Holy Writ, for the burning Bush wherein God ap∣pear'd to Moses. Sinai is illustrious for the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, which this Prophet receiv'd: It is extraordinary high, and nevertheless the Mount St. Catherine, which is near it, is much higher.

Arabia Deserta is a Countrey, where they often want good Water; tho' there be some Wells, the Water, for the most part, is hardly worth any thing. Ana, upon the Euphrates, has an Arabian Emir. There is a King in this Arabia, who has a moving and portative City, which consists in Tents, and he causes it to be carried whither he pleaseth. He takes this course, to avoid being surpriz'd by the Turks. Sumiscasac is esteem'd the ancient Saba, from whence departed the three Kings, (or rather wise Men) to come and adore the Saviour of the World in Bethlehem.

Arabia Faelix goes under that Name, as being a good Countrey. It has Horses very much esteem'd, Manna, Cinnamon, Myrrh, Balm, Benjamin, Incense, and other Perfumes. There is so great a quantity of Incense, that from the Port of Dolfar, the Inhabitants furnish the principal parts of the World. Aden is a City of great trade, in a small Peninsula, at the foot of a Mountain, with two Castles towards the North, and a small Fortress at the entrance of the Harbour. The Portugals, at the time of their establishment in the East Indies, had Or∣ders to make themselves Masters of Aden, Or∣mus, and Malaca, by reason of their important situations. The Turks prevented them at Aden, whose King they caused to be hang'd on the Mast of their Captain's Galley. Since that time, there have been some Revolutions, those of the Countrey having dispossess'd the Turks. Ormus and Malaca have been in the power of the Por∣tuguese: the Persians have taken from them Or∣mus, by the help of the English; and the Hollan∣ders, Malaca, Mecha and Medina are famous for the Pilgrimages of the Mahometans, who are in great esteem after such a Journey: they go par∣ticularly to Mecha, to pay their devotion to Kiaabee, the four-square House, which they call the House of God, as having been built by Abraham. This City, about as big as York, as containing about six thousand Houses, is a days journey distant from the Red-Sea; the place of the Birth of Mahomet, whose body was, as some Authors say, transferred to Me∣dina, when Albaquerque, the Portuguese, would have surpriz'd the Port of Ziden, otherwise called Gidde, with design to go with Cavalry, and fetch away that Mahometan Relick. The Countrey about Mecha, produces in abundance that sort of Berry, which serves to make the Drink, called Coffee, so much us'd in the Levant, by reason of its virtue, to fortifie the Stomach, and facilitate Digestion. Medina, three days journey from the Red-Sea, is the place where that pretended Prophet lyes buryed. Endea∣vours have been used to make his Tomb pass for a Wonder, as if it was suspended in the Air, by the means of the Load-stone; this is not only found to be a fallacy, but Anti∣quity shews us such like things: Democritus, the Athenian, by order of Ptolomey, King of Aegypt, undertook to make the Statue of Ar∣sinoe all of Iron, for to dispose it after the like manner; and in the Temple of Serapis in Alex∣andria; they formerly hung up, the same way, a Sun made of a very delicate Iron. The Prince of Mecha, called Sultan Scherif, is one of the most Potent of all Arabia: His most usual Residence is in Almacharana: The Grand Seig∣nior makes him often Presents, and causes part of the Revenue of Aegypt to be given him, by reason that he's of the Race of Mahomet; and to oblige him to defend the Turkish Pilgrims. The Arabians call Scherifs, the Relations of Mahomet, the Turks call them Emirs. Fartach, Caxem, Gubel-haman, Alibinali, Amanzirifdin, Masfa, Mascalat; Jemen, are as many Sultanies, or small Kingdoms in Arabia-Felix. Mascate formerly belonging to the Portugals, has for a long while carried on the trade from the Indies, to the Mecha, by the means of the Cities El-Catif and Lehsa. Sohar in the Eastern part drove the Commerce, which has since been to Ormus, and to Gombru. Mocha upon the Red Sea, is an open Town with a small Castle. By reason of the goodness of its Haven, there re∣sort thither Ships from all parts of the East-Indies with Merchandizes, to take in those of Europe, which are in like manner brought thi∣ther. There are Jews, Persians, Armenians, Indians, Banians. It is the place, where the Pilgrims disembark, who go from the Indies to Mecha. 'Tis much augmented, since the Ships which were bound from Sues to Aden, unload there, for the avoiding the dangerous Passages of the Streight of Bebel-Mandel.