and those of Babylonia and Mesopotamia on the east, and some geographers include that entire wilderness in Arabia. The extreme length of this region, from north to south, is about one thousand four hundred miles, and its extreme breadth about one thousand, and its superficial area is estimated at four times the extent of France.

The first part of this vast territory to which we come, if we travel from Sinai, is the border of mountains, from fifteen to twenty geographical miles in breadth, on the east of the Arabah. These are the mountains of Edom, the Idumæa to which the greater part of this volume will be devoted, and which, along with the peninsula of Sinai, constitute the Arabia Petrea of the ancients. The distinctive epithet of this part of Arabia is commonly translated " Stony," and though, as thus understood, it is appropriate to a region of rocky mountains and gravelly plains, the name is more probably derived from its chief town, Petra, which itself signifies a rock.

Arabia Deserta lies eastward of Arabia Petræa, and extends on the north to Syria, on the north-east to the Euphrates, and on the south-east to the Indian Ocean. The Arabs divide this " great wilderness into three Badiahs, or wildernesses, and designate them by the respective countries which they border. And from this word "Badiah" is derived the name of the nomadic tribes by whom it is traversed, namely, Bedawees, (better known to

us as Bedouins or Bedawíns,) who are not, however, confined to this portion of Arabia, but range throughout the entire region, and indeed set all geographical boundaries at defiance. So far as it has yet been explored, Desert Arabia appears to be one continuous, elevated, interminable steppe, occasionally intersected by ranges of hills. Sand and salt are the chief elements of the soil, which in many places is entirely bare, but elsewhere yields stunted and thorny shrubs, or thinly-scattered saline plants. The sky is generally cloudless, but the burning heat of the sun is moderated by cooling winds, which, however, raise fearful tempests of sand and dust. Here, too, as in other regions of the east, occasionally prevails the burning, suffocating, south-east wind, called by the Arabs el Hharur, (the hot,) but more commonly, Samum, and by the Turks, Samyeli, (both words meaning "the poisonous, ") the effects of which, however, have by some travellers been greatly exaggerated. This is probably the "east wind," and the "wind from the desert," spoken of in Scripture. Another phenomenon, which is not peculiar, indeed, to Desert Arabia, but is seen there in greatest frequency and perfection, is what the French call the mirage, the delusive appearance of an expanse of water, created by the tremulous, undulatory movement of the vapours raised by the excessive heat of a meridian sun.

*See a well-digested article on "Arabia" in Kitto's Biblical Cyclopædia.

CHAPTER II.

ARABIA AND THE ARABIANS, continued.

Arabia Felix-The Land of Pilgrimage-Ancient traditionsIllustrations from Antar-The Kaaba-Sheba and SebaHimyaritic inscriptions and language - Permanence of Arabian customs-Physical superiority of the ArabiansMoral condition.

THE third division of Arabia, Arabia Felix, feels the effects of its proximity to Arabia Deserta, and partakes more of its character than its name would indicate. This country forms the coast of the Red Sea, which bounds it on the west, and of that part of the Indian Ocean which bounds Arabia on the south. It may be regarded as forming the base and perpendicular side of a right angle. This definition includes in Arabia Felix the Hedjaz, or "Land of Pilgrimage," which extends along the coast of the Red Sea from the Gulf of Akabah on the north, nearly to Yemen on the south, (and

*

* Some regard the name "Felix," not as derived from the variety and richness of the natural productions of this portion of the country, compared with those of the other two divisions, but as a translation of the Arabic name, "Yemen," which, although primarily denoting the land of the "right hand" or "south,' also bears the secondary sense of "happy," "prosperous."

which some geographers regard as part of Arabia Petræa,) as well as Yemen itself, the true Arabia Felix of the Ancients—" Araby the Blest" of modern poets.

The Hedjaz is a land of mournful moral interest, being the birthplace and cradle of the Mohammedan imposture, containing both Mecca, where the prophet was born, and Medina, where he was buried the holy land of the Moslems, whither they resort from all parts of the east. Mecca had a religious interest and importance attached to it even in those times which the Mohammedans call "times of ignorance," many centuries before the birth of the prophet. The tradition is, that the Kaaba (temple) at Mecca was built by Ishmael, on the very site of a more ancient temple of radiant clouds, which was lowered down by the hands of angels in answer to the supplication of Adam, and placed immediately below its prototype in the celestial paradise. In this erection Ishmael is believed to have been assisted by his father Abraham. A miraculous stone served Abraham as a scaffold, (so the tradition runs,) rising and sinking with him as he built the walls of the sacred edifice. It still remains there a treasured relic, and the print of the patriarch's foot is said to survive to this day. There is another famous stone in this temple, the traditional history of which is still more marvellous. 66 By some it is said to have been one of the precious stones of paradise, which fell to the earth with Adam, and was afterwards lost in the slime of the

Deluge, until retrieved by the angel Gabriel. The more received tradition is, that it was originally the guardian angel appointed to watch over Adam in paradise, but changed into a stone, and ejected thence with him at his fall, as a punishment for not having been more vigilant. This stone Abraham and Ishmael received with proper reverence, and inserted it in a corner of the exterior wall of the Kaaba, where it remains to the present day, devoutly kissed by worshippers each time they make a circuit of the temple. When first inserted in the wall, it was, we are told, a single jacinth of dazzling whiteness, but became gradually blackened by the kisses of sinful mortals. the resurrection it will recover its angelic form, and stand forth a testimony before God in favour of those who have faithfully performed the rites of pilgrimage."

At

These traditions rendered the Kaaba and the well of Zem Zem (which is groundlessly supposed to be the well revealed to Ishmael by the angel, when perishing with thirst) objects of extraordinary veneration from a very remote antiquity among the people of the east, and especially the descendants of Ishmael. So universal and profound was this feeling in all parts of Arabia, that four months in every year were devoted to the rites of pilgrimage, and held sacred from all violence and warfare. "Hostile tribes then laid aside their arms, took the heads from their spears, traversed the late dangerous deserts in security, thronged