S iz TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



burned what part of it could be con fumed, they polluted 

 the part that remained, by bcfmearing it over with human 



excrements. 



This violent facrilege and affront was foon reported to 

 Abreha, who, mounted upon a white elephant at the head of 

 a confiderable army, refolved, in return, to dellroy the temple 

 of Mecca. With this intent, he marched -through that ilripe 

 of low country along the lea, callexl Tehama, where he met 

 with no oppoiition, nor fuffcred any diitrefs but from want of 

 .water ; after which, at the head of his army, he fat down 

 before Mecca, as he fuppofed. 



Abou Thaleb (Mahomet's grandfather, as it is thought) 

 was then keeper of the Caba, who had interetl: with his 

 countrymen the Bcni Koreifh to prevail upon them to make 

 no refiftancc, nor mew any figns of wifhing to make a de- 

 fence. He had prefented himfelf early to Abreha upon his 

 march. There was a temple of Ofiris at Taief, which, as a 

 rival to that of Mecca, was looked upon by the Bcni Koreifh 

 with a jealous eye. Abreha was fo far milled by the intel- 

 ligence given him by Abou Thaleb, that he millook the 

 Temple of Taief for that of Mecca, .and razed it to the 

 foundation, after which he prepared to return home. 



He was foon after informed of his miftake, and not re- 

 penting of what he had already done, refolved to dcftroy 

 Mecca alfo. Abou Thaleb, however, had never left his fide ; 

 by his great hofpitality, and the plenty he procured to ihe 

 Emperor's army, lie fo gained Abreha, that hearing, on in- 

 quiry, he was no mean man, but a prince of the tribe of 

 Bcni Koreifh, noble Arabs, he obliged him to lit in his pre- 



fence 



