'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.' [‎664] (763/905)

664
ANCIENT FAIRS.
[CHAP. XXV.
was one in 'Oman, another in Arem, and another in Kais-
esh-Shajz, which continued several days. A fair was held
at 'Aden for aromatic drugs, precious stones, and other valu
able merchandise, and one at Rabiya, in Hadramaut, where
were sold goat's leather, and cloths of different colours,
which were manufactured in I'ran. But the fair at
Poetical con- Akath was the most interesting of all. Here poets competed
S of 'Akath with one another for a prize, and the poem of the victor was
copied in letters of gold. 1 This fair, and indeed nearly all
those which were instituted for commercial dealings have
ceased since the time of Muhammed, whose religion and policy
have been most prejudicial to the country.
andofOukazh. The fair of Oukazh, was not only a great annual market, at
which all the tribes of Arabia met for the purposes of com
merce, but it served as a focus, in which was collected the
literature of the country. Here poets, who were also war
riors, met to celebrate their individual exploits in verse, and
thus peaceably contend for the honours due to military merit.
This fair was held between Taif and Nakhlah, and commenced
with the new moon of Dhou'lqadah, which was the commence
ment of a period of three months, during which all hostilities
were suspended. Whilst the fete lasted, the competitors
appeared in masks; and, in the recitations, their voices were
supplied by those of the public criers, who remained near them,
and repeated aloud their words. As the competitors were
unknown to one another, the meeting could not give rise to
any quarrels ; but, on the contrary, it was the means of pre
serving a spirit of emulation among the different tribes there
assembled. Moreover, this congress of poets contributed to
unite in one the various dialects, and improve the language
of Arabia. 2
Before the time of Muhammed, the chiefs of Arabia not
only prided themselves on a long line of ancestors, but gloried
in the number of followers, the extent of means at command
for their support, and freedom from the vice of avarice. In
1 Arabic MSS. in the British Museum, translated by Dr. Aloys Sprenger.
8 Lettres sur 1'Histoire des Arabes avant I'lslamism, par Fulgence Fresnel:
notes, p. 31-33, premiere Lettre.