THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 515 



this the Arabian hiftory of the War of the Elephant, which 

 I have ftated as found in the books of the moll credible wri- 

 ters of thofe times. 



But it is my duty to put the reader upon his guard, 

 againfl adopting literally what is here fet down, without 

 being fatisfied of the validity of the objection that may be 

 made againfl the narrative in general. Abreha reigned 27 

 years ; he was converted to Chriftianity in 333, and died in 

 360 ; now, it is fcarcely poflible, in the fliort fpace of 27 years, 

 that all Abyflinia and Arabia could be converted to Chrifti- 

 anity. The converfion of the Abyflinians- is reprefented to 

 be a work of little time, but the Arab author, Hameefy, fays, 

 that even Arabia Felix was full of churches when this expe- 

 dition took place, which is very improbable. And, what 

 adds Hill more to the improbability, is, that part of the ftory 

 which dates that Abreha converfed with Mahomet's father, 

 or grandfather. For, fuppoiing the expedition in 356, Ma- 

 homet's birth was in 558, fo there will remain 202 years, 

 by much too long a period for two lives. I do believe we 

 mud bring this expedition down much lower than the reign 

 >of Abreha and Atzbeha, the reafon of which we lliall fee 

 afterwards. 



As early as the commencement of the African trade with 

 Paleftine, the Jewifh religion had fprcad itfelf far into Ara- 

 bia, but, after the deflruclion of the temple by Titus, a great 

 increafe both of number and wealth had made that people 

 abfolute matters in many parts of that peninfula. In the 

 Neged, and as far up as Medina, petty princes, calling them- 

 felves kings, were eftablifhed ; who, being trained in the 

 wars of Paleftine, became very formidable among the pa- 



3 T 2 cine 



