'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.' [‎112] (161/905)

112
THE MENDAJAHA, OR SABEANS.
[CHAP. VI.
strictness. The Psalms of David are in use, but they are
held to be inferior to their own book. They abstain from
garlic, beans, and several kinds of pulse, and likewise
most carefully from every description of food between sun
rise and sunset during a whole moon before the vernal
equinox ; in addition to which, an annual festival is kept,
called the feast of five days. Much respect is entertained for
the city of Mecca, and a still greater reverence for the pyra
mids of Egypt, in one of which they believe that their great
progenitor, Saba, son of Seth, is buried; and to his original
residence at Haran they make very particular pilgrimages,
sacrificing on these occasions a ram and a hen. They
pray seven times a-day, turning sometimes to the south 1
and sometimes to the north. 2 But at the same time they
retain a part of the ancient worship of the heavenly bodies,
adding that of angels, with the belief that the souls of the
wicked are to enjoy a happier state after nine hundred cen
turies of suffering. The priests, who are called sheikhs, or
chiefs, use a particular kind of baptism, which, they say, was
instituted by St. John; and the Chaldee language is used in
this and other ceremonies. 3
)S ed The strict preservation of this tongue, (which of itself de-
[ajL? e no tes a separate origin from the Arabs,) together with the
particular connexion between Palestine and the ancient people
of Upper Mesopotamia, make it possible that these Sabeans
may be descended from Sheba, son of Ketura, which would
account for the great respect paid to the residence of one of
their idolatrous ancestors (Terah). Ben Schunah calls the
Sabeans Syrians, and adds, they use the language of Adam in
their books ; 4 and another 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. , Ibn Koura, says their reli
gion is the same as that of the old Sabeans. 5 In our inter
course, we found them to be quiet and harmless, but exceed
ingly cautious, and unwilling to communicate, except with
Mr. Rassam, who was almost considered as one of themselves.
1 Egypt. 8 Hdran,
8 From MS. Collections made by Mr. Rassam.
* MS. Translation by Mr. Rassam.
5 Ibid.