CONTENTS 



OF 

 THE FIRST VOLUME. 



CHAPTER I. 



IXTKODCCTOKV VIEW OF AEABIAM HISTORY 



Arabia — Peculiarities in its History and Manners — Interesting 

 Aspect of the Country — Its Connexion with many Scenes and 

 Events in Holy Writ — Distinguished as the Birthplace of Mo- 

 hammed — Rapid and extensive Conquests of the Saracens — 

 Instabihty and Downfall of their Empire — Their singular 

 Passion for Learning— Munificent Endowment of Schools — 

 Causes why their History has been little studied in Europe — 

 Ignorance of their Language and Literature — Religious Pre- 

 judices against their Character — Efforts of Scholar's and Lit- 

 erary' Associations to illustrate Arabian History — Valuable 

 Discoveries of recent Travellers — ^Unexplored Tracts in the 

 Central Deserts — Prospects of further Discoveries — Increased 

 Facilities for Modem Research— Reflections on the Preceding 

 Surrey Page 17 



CHAPTER II. ■ 



DESCEIPTrON OF ARiBIA. 



Name— Boundaries — General Features — Ancient Geographical 

 Divisions— Arabia Petraa— Deserta— Felix— Modem Divi- 

 sions— Hejaz— Tehama— Yemen— Hadi-amaut-Oman-Lah- 

 sa or El-Hassa— Nejed— Peniosula of Sinai— Ancient Bed 

 of the Jordan— Mounts Sinai and Horeb— View from their 

 Top— Various Opinions as to their Identity — Climate of Ara- 

 bia— Heat— Rams— Rivers— Winds — The Simoom— Arabian 

 Seas— Persian Gull— Red Sea— Coral Banks— Passage of 

 the Israelites — Dangerous Navigation — Steam Communica- 

 tion with India 35 



