'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.' [‎655] (754/905)

CHAP, XXIV.]
ARABIA PETRiEA.
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Arabia Deserta is a low chain of hills which run southward
along the borders of Amnion, Moab, and Mount Seir, to the
eastern side of the gulf of Akabah; within this tract are in
cluded the desert of El Tih, extending westward to the shores
of the Mediterranean; the peninsula of Sinai, as well as the
country from thence to the borders of Egypt, and the plain
chosen by Lot on account of its fertility. 1
In the first instance it was peopled by the Thamudites, Ancient people
Amalekites, Amorites, Rechabites, 2 and other Cushite branches, p f et ^ b,a
to whom succeeded the descendants of Abraham already men
tioned, with the Moabites and Ammonites ; all of whom the
Greeks called Nabathsei, from Nebai'oth, the eldest son of
Ishmael. 3
At one period the country of the Nabatheei included most of Country of the
the tract lying between the gulf of Akabah and the Euphrates; Nabatb8ei -
it is particularly described by Diodorus Siculus, 4 as containing
the bituminous lake of the Dead Sea and a strong steep fortress,
only approached by a difficult narrow road; 5 evidently the
remarkable city of Petra, which became the capital after this
people had partly ceased to be nomadic. Most of this terri
tory was the gift of Abraham to the sons of his concubines. 6
Although mountainous and rocky, it produces wool, goats' hair,
honey, wax, wheat, and barley; and the princes of Kedar were
the merchants who supplied Tyre with lambs, rams, and goats. 7
In the time of Ahab, King of Israel, Mesha, King of Moab,
contributed an hundred thousand lambs and an hundred thou
sand rams, with the wool; 8 and about the same period the
Arabians, in addition to a tribute of silver and other presents,
furnished to Jehosophat, King of Judah, 7700 sheep and 7700
goats. 9 The chief town and capital of all Arabia was Arecem,
the Rekem of the Arabs; 10 so named, says Josephus, after
1 Genesis, chap. XIIL, v. 10.
2 Pure Arabs, a branch of the Kenites and of the family of Jethro, Moses
father-in-law.—1 Chron., chap. II., v. 55; Judges, chap. IV., v. 11.
a Genesis, chap. XXV., v. 13; chap. XXVIII.,v. 9; Isaiah, chap. IX., v. 7.
» Ibid.
7 Ezek., chap. XXVII., v. 21.
9 2 Chron., chap. XVII., v. 11.
4 Lib. II., cap. xxix.
6 Genesis, chap. XXV., v. 6.
8 2 Kings, chap. III., v. 4.
10 Numbers, chap. XXXI , v. 8.