C 756 ] 
the Calbites, before the birth of Mohammed, 
probably extended themfelves from Dawmat A l 
Jandal and Tabuc to the borders of Palmyrene, and 
were even poffeffed of fome diftridts in the neigh- 
bourhood of Tadmor. According to the correfpond- 
ent (11) Latin infcription, the TADMORITES, 
or PALMYRENES, as well as the (12) CAL- 
BITES, mentioned here to have expreffed fuch a re- 
gard for their local or tutelary deities, muft have been 
foldiers belonging to the third cohort of one of the 
Roman legions, then quartered either at Tadmor, or 
fome other place in the territories of the Palmyrenes. 
But who TIBERIVS CLAVDIVS was, what com- 
mand he had affigned him in the Roman forces, or 
even at what time precifely he lived, for want of 
fufficient light from antient hiftory, I cannot at pre- 
fen t take upon me to determine. 
Thus, Sir, you have my thoughts upon the fecond 
Roman Palmyrene infcription, the only one of thofe 
hitherto published, which I have not already touched 
upon, laid before you with all pofPible brevity. For 
the reft, I remain, with the higheft refpedt and 
efteem, SIR, 
Your mofl obedient humble fervant, 
John Swinton. 
(n) Jacob. Spon. Mifcellan. Erudit. Antiquitat. p. 3. Lugduni, 
1685. 
(12) It appears from Eutychius, that the Calbites acknowledged 
the fovereignty of the emperor Heraelius, and that even part of a 
body of troops, aflembled by that prince to oppofc the Modem 
forces, was drawn out of their tribe, in the Khalifat of Abu Beer. 
'Eutych. AnnaU Tom, li, p, 270—273. Oxon. 1656. 
LXXXVIII. 
