THE WONDEKFUL WELL. 255 



they contained at the disposal of the prince. The 

 Abyssinians were driven out, but they returned and 

 reconquered the land. Chosroes then sent a regular 

 army with orders to kill all the men with black skins 

 and curly hair. Thus Yemen became a Persian pro- 

 vince ; and no less than three great religions, that of 

 Zoroaster, that of Moses, and that of Jesus, were re- 

 presented in Arabia. 



Midway between Yemen and Egypt is a sandy 

 valley two miles in length, surrounded on all sides by 

 naked hills. No gardens or fields are to be seen; no 

 trees, except some low brushwood and the accacia of 

 the desert. On all sides are barren and sunburnt 

 rocks. But in the midst of this valley is a wonderful 

 well. It is not that the water is unusually cool and 

 sweet ; connoisseurs pronounce it " heavy " to the 

 taste ; but it affords an inexhaustible supply. No 

 matter what quantity may be drawn up, the water in 

 the well remains always at the same height. It is 

 probably fed by a perennial stream below. 



This valley, on account of its well, was made the 

 halting-place of the India caravans, and there the 

 goods changed carriers — the South delivered them 

 over to the North. As the North and South were 

 frequently at war, the valley was hallowed with solemn 

 oaths for the protection of the trade. A sanctuary 

 was established ; the well Zemzem became sacred ; its 

 fame spread ; it was visited from all parts of the land 

 by the diseased and the devout. The tents of the 

 valley tribe became a city of importance, enriched by 

 the custom receipts, dues of protection, and the carrier 

 hire of the caravans. When the navigation of the 

 Red Sea put an end to the carrying trade by land, 

 the city was deserted ; its inhabitants returned to the 



