'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎696] (795/905)

696
CHARACTER OF THE ANCIENT ARABS. |~CHAP. XXV.
unfortunate crews of ships which, were taken, were often com
pelled by them to " walk the plank but the activity of the
English cruisers has happily put a stop to such practices, and
has compelled the people to apply themselves, for their
subsistence, to the pearl-fishery and commerce ; so that, now,
the navigation along the coasts of Arabia and Persia is liable
only to the usual dangers of the seas.
Some portion of the people on the western side of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. came, at a period not very distant, from the
opposite coast; and, in consequence, the inhabitants of that
part of Arabia resemble the Persians in some respects ; whilst
the inhabitants of the towns along the river Euphrates are
an unmixed race. But, in all, we cannot fail to recognise
the branches from that wild stock whose hand is against
every man.
The character given of the Arabs by Ammianus Marcellinus
scarcely differs from that which is indicated in the Scriptures.
That writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. describes them as a people who are to be
desired neither as friends nor enemies ; who are not governed
by any laws, nor subject to any kind of restraint; they are
compared to ravenous kites snatching up their prey in their
flight, but not tarrying if it requires time to carry it off.
and by Edrisi. A later writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. , speaking of the Bili, an African branch,
says these Arabs are capable of all kinds of guilty actions;
they are greedy, faithless, sanguinary, and of depraved
manners. If vanquished, they disperse; and if victorious,
they show no mercy. They have no respect for religion ;
and, although punished by the Almighty with various
calamities and infirmities, they do not profit by them. 1
Manner of Among the Bedawins war is commenced on almost any
troops for war. grounds; but the most frequent cause is some quarrel con
cerning water and pasture. 2 In order to collect the warriors
when several tribes combine together to make war, a young
maiden dressed in black, having her face and hands stained
of the same colour, and being seated on a she-camel, blackened
for the purpose with smoke and oil, proceeds from one tribe
1 Edrisi, ed. Jaubert, vol. V., p. 132, Recueil de Voyages et Memoires, &c.
2 Burckhardt's Bedawin and Wahhabi, p. 83.
Some Arabs
resemble the
Persians.
Character of
the Arabs by
Ammianus
Marcellinus,