94 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
number of libraries in the Greek empire, it Is impoflible to con- 
ceive, that the work of any truly valuable author fhould have 
cxifted only in one copy. 
A. D. 643. A famine defolating Arabia, Amru re-opened the 
canal, formed by the Romans from Memphis to the Red Sea. 
The capital feat of the Chalifs being foon after removed from 
Medina to Damafcus, it was neglected and went to ruin. 
A. D. 647. Abd-ullah, governor of Egypt, proceeds to the 
conqueft of Africa. He vanquifhes the Greek patrician Gre- 
gory in the battle of Yakub. 
PART I. 
AFRICA. 
THIS and the fubfequerft events are fo ably narrated by Mr. 
Gibbon *, that it would be prefumptuous to enter the fame 
ground. It is fufficient to obferve that the Arabs, alternately 
advancing and repulfed, were not complete mafters of Africa, 
or rather that portion of this vaft continent which extends 
along the Mediterranean Sea, till about the year 709 of our 
sera. They had not only been oppofed by the Greeks, but by 
the Berbers^ or natives of the Weft. Thefe Berbers were, ac- 
cording to Cardonne, an ancient Arabian colony, which had 
* VoL ix. p. 448 — 466, 8vo. 
migrated 
