94 PRIMITIVE INHABITANTS OF ARABIA. 



adventure that befell the sons of Nazar, who, from 

 the minute description which they gave of a stray- 

 camel, were, on the mere strength of presumptive 

 evidence, apprehended as guilty of theft. Fehr, 

 surnamed Koreish, or the Courageous, was founder 

 of the noble tribe of that name. That honourable 

 title he obtained on account of his bravery in defend- 

 ing the temple; though the epithet would seem 

 better merited by Kosa, who restored to the de- 

 scendants of Ishmael the sovereignty of the city, 

 Avhich had been usurped by the Khozaites, one of 

 the emigrant clans from Yemen. Hashem sur- 

 passed all his predecessors in the grandeur and mag- 

 nificence of his character. His generosity was 

 unbounded ; and hence the name Hashem, or the 

 Divider of Bread. He killed vast numbers of his 

 own camels to feed the indigent ; his table was con- 

 stantly furnished with all sorts of provisions, Avhether 

 in times of plenty or distress, to which all were 

 freely admitted. As the soil was too barren to pro- 

 duce a competent supply of corn and fruits, Hashem 

 appointed two caravans to set out yearly, — the one 

 in winter to Yemen and the south, the other to 

 Syria. The commodities brought by these convey- 

 ances were distributed twice a year, and in such 

 abundance that the poorest enjoyed all the luxuries 

 of the rich. The vanity of the Arabs has exalted 

 the glory and munificence of Hashem to the highest 

 pitch. They even allege that the Roman emperor, 

 hearing of his renown, sought an alliance -with him, 

 by ofl'ering him his daughter in marriage. This con- 

 nexion was declined ; for it would have been deemed 

 sacrilege to mix the apostolical prerogative of the 

 Koreish with the blood of strangers. The charities 

 of the father descended richly on the son. Abdol- 

 motalleb was liberal and hospitable ; every year he 

 entertained the poor on the flat roof oi his house. 

 So prodigal was his munificence, that he caused 

 tables loaded with food to be transported to the 



