JIDDA. 
At that time, also, the sovereign of the country, Moosnud, was active^ 
able, victorious, and so rigid an administrator of justice, that it is 
said a camel might go safely from one end of Hedjas to the othen 
During the nineteen years that his son has ruled, how totally has 
every thing been changed? The proud Arabs of Beni Koreish, the 
descendants of the Prophet, to whom the earth was given, are shut 
up in four wretched towns, whence they behold their country 
devastated without the means of saving it ; and instead of receiv- 
ing that respect, which for twelve centuries they have claimed 
throughout Asia, they are obliged to submit to the mandates of an 
Abyssinian slave, who has no real merit except valour, but who is 
recommended to his master by a willingness to commit every crime. 
The martial spirit of the Arabians seems to have subsided to* 
gether with their religious zeal. The larger proportion of their 
soldiers, and many of their officers, are slaves, purchased from 
Africa, who fight bravely for their masters, though, from their 
number, they might at any time render themselves free, now that 
arms are put into their hands by their effeminate masters. 
A slave in Arabia is by no means an object of compassion ; and, 
were it not that the loss of liberty enbitters every enjoyment, he 
would be in a better situation than in his native country. He is 
considered as a part of the family of his master, he lives well, is 
comfortably lodged, and splendidly cloathed. The Mussulmaun 
law limits his punishment, and enables him to quit his master if 
he should dislike his situation; for, at the request of a slave, the 
Cadi will order him to be publicly sold. He may even look up to 
the highest offices in the state; and his slavery can hardly be felt 
as a severe degradation, in a country where the despotism of the 
