BOOK VI.] History of Nature. 147 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



Arabia, Nomades, JYabatcei, and Omani: the Islands Tylos 

 and Ogyris. 



ARABIA cometh behind none of the Nations for its great 

 Length and Extent ; for it beginneth at the Descent of the 

 Mountain Amanus, overagainst Cilicia and Comagene, as we 

 have before said ; where it is peopled with many Nations of 

 them, brought by Tigranes the Great to inhabit that Quarter; 

 and in old Time it descended naturally as far as to our Sea 

 and the Egyptian Coast, as we have shewn : yea, and it 

 extendeth into the midland Parts of Syria to the Mountain 

 Libanus, where the Hills reach to the very Clouds : to 

 which are joined the Ramasi ; then the Taranei, and after 

 them the Patami. The Peninsula itself of Arabia runneth 

 out between two Seas, the Red and the Persian, by a 

 certain Workmanship of Nature, resembling Italy in Form 

 and Magnitude, with its Sea-coasts also in the manner of 

 Italy. It also regardeth the same Quarter of the Heaven 

 without any Difference. This Tract, for the rich Seat it 

 hath, is named Felix (happy). The Nations therein dwell- 

 ing, from our Sea to the Deserts of Palmyra, we have treated 

 of already, therefore we pass them by. The Nomades, and 

 those Robbers that trouble the Chaldaeans, the People 

 called Scenitse, border on it as we have before said ; they also 

 are Wanderers, but are so called from their Tabernacles, 

 which they make of Hair-cloths, and they encamp under 

 them as they please. Being past them you find the Nabataei, 

 who inhabit a Town named Petra, in the Valley, little less 

 than two Miles large ; environed with very steep Mountains, 

 and having a River running through the midst of it. It 

 is distant from Gaza (a Town of our Coast) 600 Miles ; and 

 from the Persian Gulf, 122. And here meet both the High- 

 ways, that is, the one which Passengers travel to Palmyra in 

 Syria, and the other wherein they come from Gaza. Beyond 

 Petra the Omani inhabit as far as to Carax, in the celebrated 

 Towns built by Semiramis, namely, Abesamis and Soractia. 

 But now all is a Wilderness. Then come you to a Town 



