112 The Arabian Horse. 



ancient cities, is supposed to be identical with the 

 Mesha of Scripture (of this there can be httle doubt), 

 but some have objected to Central Arabia as being the 

 territory occupied by Joktan, as they know of no 

 ' mount ' in the East. A glance at the map appended 

 to Mr. Palgrave's book of travel through Central Arabia 

 will dispel such doubts at once. 



It will be seen that between Mecca and Jebel Toweek — 

 which latter is, strictly speaking, Nejed Proper — lies the 

 district called Kahtan. Jebel Toweek literally means, 

 we are told, a little twist or garland of mountains, which 

 would answer to the description * a mount of the East' 

 At the foot of the collection of little mounts, at the 

 northern extremity, but still east from Mecca, is a town 

 now called Zulphar, which, I think, might well be the 

 Sephar of Scripture, the western boundary of Joktan's 

 dominion. From profane history we learn that Joktan, 

 the father of the ancient Arabs, had thirty-one sons, and 

 that he first wore the diadem in Yemen. He was suc- 

 ceeded by Yarab, Yarab by his son Yashab, and Yashab 

 by Abd-Shems, who was a great and successful monarch. 

 He built the city of Saba, and formed vast reservoirs 

 above the city to supply the inhabitants and surrounding 

 lands with water. Abd-Shems was succeeded by his son 

 Hamyar, so called from his wearing red clothes, and he 

 gave his name to a tribe. He was succeeded by a line 

 of seventeen kings, from one of whom, named Africus, 

 the continent of Africa derived its name. It is believed 

 the Ouccn of Sheba followed this line of seventeen 

 kings. 



