5 i2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



burned what part of it could be confumed, they polluted 

 the part that remained, by beimearing it over with human 

 excrements. 



This violent facrilege and affront was foon reported to 

 Abreha, who, mounted upon a white elephant at the head of 

 a confiderable army, refolved, in return, to deftroy the temple 

 of Mecca. With this intent, he marched through that ftripe 

 of low country along the fea, called Tehama, where he met 

 with no oppofition, nor fuffered any diltrefs but from want of 

 water ; after which, at the head of his army, he fat down 

 before Mecca, as he fuppofed. 



Abou Thaleb (Mahomet's grandfather, as it is thought) 

 -was then keeper of the Caba, who had intereft with his 

 countrymen the Beni Koreifh to prevail upon them to make 

 no refiftance, nor fhew any figns of wifhing to make a de- 

 fence. He had prefented himfelf early to Abreha upon his 

 march. There was a temple of Ofiris at Taief, which, as a 

 rival to that of Mecca, was looked upon by the Beni Koreifh 

 with a jealous eye. Abreha was fo far mifled by the intel- 

 ligence given him by Abou Thaleb, that he miftook the 

 Temple of Taief for that of Mecca, and razed it to the 

 foundation, after which he prepared to return home, 



He was foon after informed of his miftake, and not re- 

 penting of what he had already done, refolved to deftroy 

 Mecca alfo. Abou Thaleb, however, had never left his fide ; 

 by his great hofpitality, and the plenty he procured to the 

 Emperor's army, he ib gained Abreha, that hearing, on in- 

 quiry, he was no mean man, but a prince of the tribe of 

 Beni Koreifh, noble Arabs, he obliged him to fit in his pre- 



fence 



