456 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER. 
Ir muft be, however, remembered, that this, though a 
pretty general obfervation, does not hold without excep- 
tion; for the Arabs of Mahomet’s own family, the Beni 
Koreifh, moftly lived in towns, fuch as Mecca, Tajef, and 
Medina, efpecially after the expulfion of the Jews and the 
eftablifhment of his empire. Many alfo of thefe, who 
came over to Beja and the eaftern part of Nubia, continued 
their practice of living in fmall towns or villages, and were 
diftinguifhed by the name of Jaheleen: This appellation, li- 
terally interpreted, fignifies Pagans; but by extention, the 
ancient races of Arabs converted immediately from Pa- 
ganifm to the Mahometan faith, by Mahomet himfelf, 
without having ever embraced Chriftianity, or any other Pa- 
gan fuperflition befides pure Sabaifm, and this was the old 
religion of Arabia, and of the whole peninfula of Africa to 
the Weftern Ocean. Thefe Jaheleen are generally Known | 
by their name, referring to men of confideration in the time 
of Mahomet’s life, whom they call their father, or to fome 
circumitance relating to Mahomet himfelf. An example of 
the firft of the race is, Rabatab, that is, Rabat was our father, or, 
“we are the children of Rabat.” An example of the fecond 
is the Macabrab, or, the fepulchre is our father, meaning the 
fepulchre of their prophet at Medina. 
Tuese Jaheleen are, as I have faid, truly noble Arabs of 
the race of Beni Koreifh. Though they live in villages, they 
are the moft dangerous and moft fanatic wretches a travel- 
ler can meet. All this country, though nominally fubject 
to Egypt for the fake of trade, had their own prince of the 
race of Beni Koreifh, whofe title was Welled Ageeb, Son of the 
Good’, which was his general inauguration name; and, be- 
fides this, he was called Ali, or Mahomet Welled Ageeb, 
3 which 
