﻿ON THE ARABS. 



their borders ; where, indeed, the Phenicians, Per- 

 sians^ Ethiopians, Egyptians* and, in modern times, 

 the Othman Tartars, have severally acquired 

 settlements ; but, with these exceptions, the na- 

 tives of Hejaz and Yemen have preserved for ages 

 the sole dominion of their deserts and pastures, their 

 mountains and fertile valleys : thus apart from the 

 rest of mankind, this extraordinary people have re- 

 tained their primitive manners and language, features 

 and character, as long and as remarkably as the Hin- 

 dus themselves. All the genuine Arabs of Syria whom 

 1 knew in Europe, those of Yemen wjiom 1 saw in the 

 isle of Hinzuan, whither many had come from Maskat 

 for the purpose of trade, and those of Hejaz, whom 

 I have met in 'Bengal, form a striking contrast to the 

 Hindu inhabitants of those provinces : their eyes are full 

 of vivacity, their speech voluble and articulate, their 

 deportment manly and dignified, their apprehension 

 quick, their minds always present and attentive, with 

 a spirit of independence appearing in the countenances 

 even of the lowest among them. Men will always 

 differ in their ideas of civilization, each measuring it 

 by the habits and prejudices of his own country ; but, 

 if courtesv and urbanity, a love of poetry and elo- 

 quence, and the practice of exalted virtues be ajuster 

 measure of perfect society, we have certain proof that 

 the people of Arabia, both on plains and in cities, in 

 republican and monarchical states, were eminently ci- 

 vilized for many ages before their conquest of Perfia. 



It is deplorable, that the ancient history of this 

 majestic race should be as little known in detail before 

 the time of Dim Yezen, as that of the Hindus before 

 Vicramaditya ; for, although the vast historical work 

 of Alnuwairi, and the Murujuldhahab or Golden Mea- 

 dows 6i Ahnasuudi, contain chapters on the kings of 

 Himyar, Ghasan, and Hirah, with lists of them and 

 sketches of their several reigns; and although genea 



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