caused, destroyed a great part of this people, who were then the richest and most powerful of all in Arabia. The Adites seeing themselves reduced to this extremity, and receiving no succour from their false Gods, resolved to make a pilgrimage to a place in the province of Hegiaz, where at present Mecca is situated. There was then a hillock of red sand there, around which a great concourse of different people might always be seen; and all these nations, the faithful as well as the unfaithful, believed that by visiting this spot with devotion, they should obtain from God whatever they petitioned for, respecting the wants and necessities of life. The Adites having then resolved to undertake this religious journey, chose seventy men, at whose head they appointed Mortadh and Kail, the two most considerable personages of the country, to per form this duty in the name of the whole nation, and by this means procure rain from Heaven, without which their country must be ruined. The deputies departed, and were hospitably received by Moâwiyah, who at that time reigned in the province of Hegiaz. They explained to him the occasion of their journey, and demanded leave to proceed and perform their devotions at the Red Hillock, that they might procure rain. Mortadh, who was the wisest of this company, and who had been converted by the Prophet Houd, often remonstrated with his associates, that it was useless to take this journey for the purpose of praying at this chosen spot, unless they had previously adopted the truths which the Prophet preached, and seriously repented of their unbelief. For how, said he, can you hope that God will shed upon us the abundant showers of his mercy, if we refuse to hear the voice of him whom he hath sent to instruct us? Kail, who was one of the most obstinate in error, and consequently of the Prophet's worst enemies, hearing the discourses of his colleague, requested King Moâwiyah to detain Mortadh prisoner, whilst he and the remainder of his companions proceeded to make their prayers upon the Hillock. Moâwiyah consented, and, detaining Mortadh captive, permitted the others to pursue their journey, and accomplish their vow. Kail, now the sole chief of the deputation, having arrived at the place, prayed thus, Lord give to the people of Ad such rains as it shall please thee. And he had scarcely finished when there appeared three clouds in the sky, one white, one red, the third black. At the same time these words were heard to proceed from Heaven, Choose which of the three thou wilt. Kail chose the black, which he imagined the fullest, and most abundant in water, of which they were in extreme want. After having chosen, he immediately quitted the place, and took the road to his own country, congratulating himself on the happy success of his pilgrimage. As soon as Kail arrived in the valley of Magaith, a part of the territory of the Adites, he informed his countrymen of the favourable answer he had received, and of the cloud which was soon to water all their lands. The senseless people all came out of their houses to receive it; but this cloud, which was big with the divine vengeance, produced only a wind, most cold and most violent, which the Arabs call Sarsar; it continued to blow for seven days and seven nights, and exterminated all the unbelievers of the country, leaving only the Prophet Houd alive, and those who had heard him and turned to the faith.-D'Herbelot. O'er all the winding sands.-P. 15. Al-Ahkaf signifies the Winding Sands. Detects the ebony.-P. 17. I have heard from a certain Cyprian botanist, that the Ebony does not produce either leaves or fruit, and that it is never seen exposed to the sun : that its roots are indeed under the earth, which the Æthiopians dig out, and that there are men among them skilled in finding the place of its concealment. -Pausanias, translated by Taylor. We to our Idols still applied for aid.—P. 19. The Adites worshipped four Idols, Sakiah the dispenser of rain, Hafedah the protector of travellers, Razekah the giver of food, and Salemah the preserver in sickness.-D'Herbelot. Sale. Then to the place of concourse, &c.—P. 20. Mecca was thus called. Mahommed destroyed the other superstitions of the Arabs, but he was obliged to adopt their old and rooted veneration for the Well and the Black Stone, and transfer to Mecca the respect and reverence which he had designed for Jerusalem. Mecca is situated in a barren place (about one day's journey from the Red-Sea) in a valley, or rather in the midst of many little bills. The town is surrounded for several miles with many thousands of little hills, which are very near one to the other. I have been on the top of some of them near Mecca, where I could see some miles about, but yet was not able to see the farthest of the hills. They are all stony-rock, and blackish, and pretty near of a bigness, appearing at a distance like cocks of hay, but all pointing towards Mecca. Some of them are half a mile in circumference, &c. but all near of one height. The people here have an odd and foolish sort of tradition concerning them, viz. That when Abraham went about building the Beat-Allah, God by his wonderful providence did so order it, that every mountain in the world should contribute something to the building thereof; and accordingly every one did send its proportion. Though there is a mountain near Algiers which is called Corra Dog, i. e. Black Mountain; and the reason of its blackness, they say, is, because it did not send any part of itself towards building the Temple at Mecca. Between these hills is good and plain travelling, though they stand near_one to another. A faithful Account of the Religion and Manners of the Adam after his fall was placed upon the mountain of Vassem, in the eastern region of the globe. Ere was banished to a place since called Djidda, which signifies the first of Mothers, (the celebrated port of Gedda, on the coast of Arabia.) The Serpent was cast into the most horrid desert of the East, and the spiritual tempter, who seduced him, was exiled to the coasts of Eblehh. This fall of our first parent was followed by the infidelity and sedition of all the spirits, Djinn, who were spread over the surface of the earth. Then God sent against them the great Azazil, who with a legion of angels chased them from the continent, and dispersed them among the isles, and along the different coasts of the sea. Some time after, Adam, conducted by the spirit of God, travelled into Arabia, and advanced as far as Mecca. His footsteps diffused on all sides abundance and fertility. His figure was enchanting, his stature lofty, his complexion brown, his hair |