134 AiNClENT KINGS OF ARABIA. 



mtude. Syllaeus, an officer of Obodas, Avho had 

 undertaken to guide the invaders, deceitfully con- 

 ducted the fleet to Leuke Kome (Moilah), through 

 the most dangerous part of the Red Sea, so that 

 many of the ships were lost among the rocks and 

 shelves. New treacheries and disasters awaited 

 the troops by land ; disease, fatigue, and famine 

 daily reduced their numbers. The prefect, how- 

 ever, continued his march without much opposition. 

 In eighty days after leaving Moilah, and passing 

 through the desert tracts of Medina and INlecca, he 

 reached Negrana (Nejeran), which he took by as- 

 sault,— the inhabitants with their chief having fled to 

 the mountains. A march of six days more brought 

 him to the cities called Asca and Athrulla, both of 

 which surrendered after a bloody battle, wherein 

 10,000 of the Arabs were slain. These successes 

 enabled him to advance to Marsyaba or IMariaba, 

 which is represented as the capital of the Rhamin- 

 ites, and the seat of Alasar, the sovereign of that 

 country. Here, according to Strabo, the expedition 

 terminated; six months having elapsed since its 

 outset. The distresses of the soldiers rendered a 

 speedy retreat necessary. In sixty days Gallus 

 reached the country of Obodas, and crossing the 

 gulf at Myos Hormus, he arrived at Alexandria with 

 the shattered remains of his army. The traitor 

 Syllaeus paid with his life the forfeit of his perfidy ; 

 he was sent to Rome, and beheaded by order of the 

 emperor. In his report to the senate, the general 

 related what he had heard of these celebrated na- 

 tions of Arabia Felix,— that the Homerites were the 

 most numerous,— that the Minsans were rich in 

 palm-groves, flocks, and fertile fields,— and that the 

 Sabaeans were renowned above all others for their 

 odorous woods, their well-watered gardens, their 

 mines of gold, their abundant stores of wax and 

 honey, myrrh and frankincense. 



There is much obscurity and contradiction in the 



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