THE HUMAN SPECIES, 389 



science which were regarded as magical. The inha- 

 bitants still breed white asses, as of old, and appear 

 themselves like low caste Hindoos. Of this ancient 

 capital there are still visible fragments of pillars, &c. ; 

 and it may be remarked, that Zobeir is more likely 

 derived from a Sanscrit or Scythic root, denoting sor- 

 cery, than from an Arab chief of that name, who is 

 said to have fallen near this place, when Ayesha, 

 widow of Mahommed, was defeated by Ali, in the 

 year 656 of our era. 



Another source of the Arabian people was derived 

 from the Jewish clans, which, after the massacre in 

 Persia, had retired to the desert, and become formi- 

 dable by their numbers and warlike propensities. 

 They had apostatized, and united with the followers of 

 Mahommed, and greatly strengthened his forces, not- 

 withstanding that other clans of Hebrews, who re- 

 tained the faith of their fathers, were expelled by him. 

 Long before that period they had been forced to dis- 

 perse, in consequence of the successful inroad of a 

 Roman army under CElius Gallus, who is said to have 

 burst the colossal stone embankment, raised to sustain 

 the waters of the Mareb, a very extensive reservoir, 

 serving to irrigate a great district of land. The event 

 is known by the name of the deluge of El Maureb ; 

 for when the waters escaped, the whole cultivated 

 surface was swept away, and the wretchedness it 

 produced was among the original causes of the subse- 

 quent expansion of the Arabian power, because forced 

 emigrations led colonies beyond the Shat-ul-Arab, 



