THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 515 



tliis the Arabian hiftory of the War of the Elephant, which 

 I have ftated as found in the books of the moft credible wri- 

 ters of thofe times. 



But it is my duty to put the reader upon his guard, 

 againft adopting literally what is here fet down, without 

 being fatisfied of the validity of the objection that may be 

 made againfl: the narrative in general. Abreha reigned 27 

 years ; he was converted to Chriftianity in 2,33, and died in 

 360 ; now, it is fcarcely poffible, in the mort fpace of 27 years, 

 that all Abyflinia and Arabia could be converted to Chrifti- 

 anity. The converfion of the Abyflinians is reprefented to 

 be a work of little time, but the Arab author, Hameefy, fays, 

 that even Arabia Felix was full of churches when this expe- 

 dition took place, which is very improbable. And, what 

 adds Hill more to the improbability, is, that part of the ftory 

 which ftates that Abreha converfed with Mahomet's father, 

 or grandfather. For, fuppofmg the expedition in 356, Ma- 

 homet's birth was in 558, fo there will remain 202 years, 

 by much too long a period for two lives. I do believe we 

 ffluft bring this expedition down much lower than the reign 

 of Abreha and Atzbeha, the reafon of which we mail fee 

 afterwards. 



As earlv as the commencement of the African trade with 

 Palefcine, the Jcwifh religion had fpread itfelf far into Ara- 

 bia, but, after the deftruction of the temple by Titus, a great 

 increafe both of number and wealth had made that people 

 abfolute mailers in many parts of that peninfula. In the 

 Neged, and as far up as Medina, petty princes, calling them- 

 felves kings, w r ere eftablifhed ; who, being trained in the 

 wars of Palefdne, became very formidable among the pa- 



3 T 2 cific 



