Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

3. ARABIA FELIX

ARABIA FELIX is bounded on the East, with the Persian; on the West, with the Arabian Gulf; on the North, with a long ridge of mountains, which part it from Deserta, and Pe∣traea; and on the South, with the boundless Ocean. Environed on three parts with the Sea, on the fourth with rough, impassable mountains, in situation and figure much resembling Italy.

It had the name of Arabia Felix from the fertility and happy condition of it, being esteemed the most fruitful and pleasant and Countrey in all Asia, abounding with Myrrhe, Balsamum, Frankincense, Gold, and precious stones: by Curtius called Odorum fertilitate nobilis Regio, from the abundance of Frankincense wherewith enriched beyond all others. Concerning which there goeth a story, that when A∣lexander in his Adolescency or boyage was sacrificing to the Gods, and cast into the fire with both hands great store of Frankincense and Myrrhe; Leonidas, his Governour, bid him be more sparing of those pre∣cious and dear Commodities, till he was Master of the Countrey in which they grew. Which Alexander remembring, when he brought almost all the East under his obedience, he sent unto Leonidas a ship laden with Frankincense, biding him from thenceforth serve the Gods more liberally. But aswel for the reason of this ad∣junct, as a more perfect Character, and description of it, take along this of Ammianus Marcellinus who de∣scribes it thus.

On the East, and South hereof (saith he) are the Happy Arabians, so called because so rich in corn, aswel as plenteous in cattel, vines, and odoriferous spices of all kinds; shut up betwixt the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf, and so acquainted with all blessings, which either Element can afford: well fur∣nished with Roades, and quiet harbours for shipping, the Towns of Trade and merchandise standing very thick, the retiring houses of the Kings, passing neat and sumptuous. Besides most wholesome foun∣tains of medicinall waters, they enjoy divers Brooks and Rivers very cleer and pure, and a temperature of Air exceeding healthy, so that whosoever considereth all things aright, may well conclude, that there

is nothing wanting to the accomplishment of its felicity in the highest degree. So Ammianus Marcelli∣nus.

To which we need adde nothing more to set forth its happiness, than that Danoeus in his comment on Saint Augustines Echiridion ad Laurentium, is perswaded that it was the local place of Paradise Dicuur (saith he) Paradisi terrestris Regio pars quoedam esse Arabiae, quoe nunc dicitur Felix. But it hath other names besides this of Felix, by the Arabians themselves called Jeman, and Al-yeman (Aya∣man corruptly by the Turks) which in that tongue fignifieth the South, or Southern Region, By Virgil it is named Panchaia, quafi tota dehiscens, because of the many chops and chinks which the ardour of the Sunne makes in the sands thereof, though by him much extolled also for its plenty of Frankincense,

Totaq thuriferis Panchaia pinguis arenis, Famed are the whole Panchaian lands For rich and incense-bearing sands.

The People antiently, though more civil than the rest of the Arabians, had yet many strange and bar∣barous customes. Adultery amongst them was punished with death, as in other places, but he onely was held an Adulterer, which enjoyed any that was not his own kinswoman, be she his Sister or his mother, and so they kept themselves in their own families, community of wives or woemen was esteemed no crime. And of this there is a tale in Strabo, that a King of this Countrey had 15. sonnes, and but one daughter, who according to the customes hereof, was the common wife of all the Brethren: every of which had a staff of like making, which when he went in unto his Sister he did leave at the door, and by so doing did forbid entrance to the rest till it were removed. The young Lady wearied with a continual excess of dalliance, se∣cretly procured a staff like unto the rest, which when she was desirous to prohibit their accesses to her, she left at her chamber door; and by that means did many times enjoy her desired privacy. At last it hap∣ned that all the Brothers being together, one of them departed towards his Sisters lodging; Where finding a staff before the door, and knowing that he had left his brethren in one place together, accused her of A∣dultery: but the truth being made known, the Lady was quitted, and her visits afterwards restrained. Of dead bodies, they took no care, not so much as of their Chiefs, or Princes, but left them to the custody of the next dung-hil. They bragged much of their descent from Jupiter; and neglected all sciences and arts, as disparagements to so great nobility. Commendable onely in the keeping of their faith and promises, and in that most punctual. Much of the same condition are the present Inhabitants, save that less faithful in their contracts, and by their law restrained from the medling with the wives of others, permitted many of their own. Some there are of them which apply themselves to the grazing of cattel, and the rest to Mer∣chandize, wherein very cautious, and cunning: but hating to this day all Mechanical Arts. A Nation from the beginning unmixed with others till the coming of the Turks amongst them, of which but few, and those disposed of in garrisons: boasting of their nobility, and glorying in nothing more than their greatest shame, namely that the false Prophet Mahomet was their Countrey-man, whose impieties are here gene∣rally embraced and followed.

Amongst the rarities of this Countrey, some account the Phoenix, which growing old burneth it self in a nest of spices, and from thence a young one is ingendred; one of them onely at a time, which after a life of five or six hundred years, thus reneweth her kind. But this tradition, questioned in former times by Pliny and some others, is now proved a fiction; contrary both unto divinity and natural reason, though some of the Fathers made use of it as an argument to prove the Resurrection against the Gentiles, by whom the tradition was believed. More common, but of no less observation, is the Ostrige, a Bird which swal∣loweth all it findeth, be it stones or Iron, They delight chiefly in the Desarts, in the sands whereof they lay their eggs, and then forgetting where they left them sit on those they meet next. In that respect ac∣counted for a simple fowl, though otherwise of wit enough to preserve themselves, keeping in flocks, and oftentimes with their fearful shreeches affrighting Passengers, to whom they do appear a farre off like a Troop of horsemen. Their wings too little for their bodies, serve them not for flight, but to run more speedily; and by that means not easily caught, though much laid in wait for, for their skins, which the people sell unto the Merchant with the feathers on them. Nor of less note is the Frankincense, though of common use; almost peculiar to this Countrey, and here but to those parts thereof which were formerly possessed by the Sabi, the wood out of which this gum proceedeth being about 100 miles long, and 500 broad; gathered onely in Spring and Autumn, More of this anon.

The Countrey is much commended by Ammianus for plenty of Rivers, the principal whereof are said by Ptolomy, to be 1. Betus. 2. Prion. 3. Harman. 4. Lar; but the modern names thereof I find not. Many fair Lakes, and store of large capacious Baies on each coast of the Sea, as 1. Sinus Elini∣ticus. 2. Sachalites. 3. Leanites. 4. Sinus Magoram. 5. Sinus Iehthy-phagorum. 6. Messanites. 7. Sacer Sinus, or the holy Bay, and 8 the Road or Naval station called Neogilla. Mountains of most note, 1. Those which are called Melanes, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf. 2. Cabubuthra, at the entrance of the Red Sea or Gulf of Arabia. 3. Hippus. 4. Prionotus, not far from the River Pyton, from whence so denominated. 5. Climax. 6. The Mountains called Dedymi, &c.

Towns of good note in antient times it had very many, no Region affording unto Ptolomy the names of more; and amongst those, many commodious Ports for trafick, the Sea begirting it for the space of three thousand miles and upwards. Of most importance and observation in those times were, 1. Zabrum, 2. Baden, 3. Rhabana, 4. Carman, 5. Manambis, 6. Sabe, 7. Are; the Royal seats of so many severall Kingdomes, and therefore honoured by Ptolomy with the title of Regioe. Then there are 1. Ma∣co••mos, 2. Meara, 3. Nagara, 4 Sabbatha, 5. Mapha, and 6. Saphar, which he called Metro∣polet; as being the head Cities of some severall Nations. Amongst the Ports, he reckoneth, 1. So••ip∣pus, 2. Trulla, 3. Tretos, 4. Cryptus, 5. Itamos, and 6. Moscha: amongst the most noted Em∣pories

or Towns of Trafick, 1. Musa, 2. Ocelis, 3. Arabia, 4. Cane. Besides which there are some which do preserve the memory of their first Plantations, as, 1. Saphta, upon the Persian Gulf, to called from Sabta, the third Sonne of Chus. 2. Rhegama, or Regma (as the Greek copies of Ptolomy have it) so named from Regmoe or Raama his sixt Sonne; On the same Gulf also. 3. Sabe, on the shores of the Red Sea, and 4. Sabe Regia, more within the Land, so named from Seba the eldest Some of the same Chus, from whom the rich and potent nation of the Saboeans are to be derived. Out of all which, and many others by him named, we shall take more particular notice of some that follow. 1. Musa, a noted Port on the entrance of the Red-Sea, frequented antiently by the Ethiopian and Egypti∣an Merchants, who there laded their ships, with Frankincekse, Myrrhe, Spices, and other commodi∣ties of this Countrey, bringing in, in exchange thereof, Saffron, corn, wine, ointments, purple dies, &c. 2. Sabe, the Regal Seat of the Kings of the Sabaans, particularly of that Queen so memorized in holy Scripture: called in the old Testament the Queen of Sheba, from her Countrey and place of dwelling, in the New Testament, the Queen of the South, because of the Southern situation of it in respect of Ju∣dea: said there to come from the furthest parts of the world, because there was no part of the world which lay south to the Countrey of the Saboeans over which she reigned. Situate on a little Mountain, assumed by Agatharcides to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the most beautiful by far in all Arabia, and the Metropolis of the rich and potent Nation of the Saboeans; rich in all the excellencies of Nature, espe∣ecially in Frankincense, a gum peculiar to them only, and growing here in a wood of about 100 miles long, and 50 broad, not gathered but in the Spring and Autumn, nor then without great care, and ma∣ny ceremonies. The Countrey hereabouts from hence called Thurifera, and this sweet gum appropriated soly to it. Sabaei Arabum propter thura clarissimi, as we find in Pliny, Solis est thurea virga Sabaeis, as it is in Virgil; and finally—Thuriferos, felicia Regna, Sabaeos, in the Argonauticks of Valerius Flaccus. It was called also Mariaba, and by that name occurreth in some antient Writers. 3. Saphar, more towards the Persian Gulf, on the South-side of the mountain Climax, the chief City of the Homerita; adorned in times of Christianity with a beautifull Temple. 4. Sabbatha, or Sabota, as Pliny calleth it, seated about the middest of the Countrey, on the top of an high and lofty hill, from whence it had a gal∣lant prospect on the fields adjoyning; antiently large and populous, and strongly fortified, having no few∣er than 60 Temples within the walls, the principal that consecrated unto Sabis, the God of their Nation, to whom they offered the tith of their Frankincense, ubi decimas Deo quem Sabin vocant, mensura non pondere capiunt Sacerdotes, as we read in Pliny.

But these and almost all the rest being grown out of knowledge, there have risen in their rooms, 1. E∣gra, on the shore of the Red Sea, neer the Bay called Sinus Elaniticus, by Prolomy called Arga, by the Arabians themselves, Algiar, the Port Town to medina, from which about three daies journey distant. 2. Jatrib, or Jathrib, in the way betwixt Aygiar, and Medina, the birth∣place of Mahomet; by whom fortified with a mud-wall as his place of retreat in the first beginnings of his fortunes. 3. Medina, or commonly called Medina Talmabi, corrupty for Medinatho-luabi, that is to say, the City of the Prophet, so called from the Sepulchre of Mahomet, that vile Imposture, which is there to be seen; although not in such an iron coffin, or drawn up to the roof of the Temple by vertue of an A∣mant there placed, as some deliver. The Town situate in a desolate and barren place, bordering on Ara∣bia Petroea; but of great trade, rich, and well inhabited: the Sepulchre of that false Prophet drawing thither a continuall resort of Pilgrims. The Temple gorgeous, having 3000 lamps in it, which burn continually. The Sepulchre or Tomb inclosed within an Iron grate, but of no magnificence or beauty: co∣vered with a carpet of Green Velvet, which is sent hither yearly by the Grand Signeur, the old one being taken off, and cut into innumerable shreds or peeces, and sold for Relicks by the Priests, (to such as come in Pilgrimage thither) to their great enriching. 4. Cufa, the ordinary residence of the first Caliphs, till the removing of the Imperiall Seat to Damascus in Syria; and after that, the usuall place of meeting for ••••••sultation in affairs of State, relating to the peace of this Countrey, and the common interest of this Peo∣ple: as memorable for the Sepulchre of Mortis Hali, the Progenitor of the Persian Sophies, as Medina is for that of Mahomet. 5. Meccha, supposed to be the Mechara of Ptolomy, situate in the like barren soyl, not far from Medina, but of far greater resort and trafick: the whole wealth in a man∣ner of this Countrey, together with the commodities of Persia, and India, being first brought hither, and from hence on Camels backs transported into Aegypt, Syria, Palestine, and other parts of the Turkish Empire. Unwalled, and either for that cause or for concealement of their fopperies from the eyes of Chri∣stians, it is made death for any Christian for to come within five miles of it. Utterly destitute of water, but what they keep in cisternes from one shewer of rain to another, or else brought thither with great charge; otherwise pleasantly seated, rich, and containing about 6000 families: every year visited with three Caravans or troops of Merchants and Pilgrims, from India, Damascus, and Grand Caire: who having done their business and devotions there, go afterwards in Pilgrimage to Medina also, to the great enriching of both places. 6. Ziden, the Haven Town to Mecca, from which distant about 40. miles, situate on the Red Sea, in a sandy soyl, unwalled and much exposed both to wind and weather, but wealthy, well-built, and of great resort. 7. Zebit, now the Metropolis of the Countrey, situate about half a daies journey from the Red Sea, in a large plain between two mountains; a Riveret of the smae name passing by it, well-traded for Sugars, spice, and fruits; the ordinary residence of the Turkish Begler••e, by whom taken not longer after Aden. 8. Eltor, a Port Town of this Countrey, where the Christians are suffered to inhabit. 9. Aden, on the very entrance of the Red Sea, neer the Streights called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 M••ndell, supposed by some to be the Madoce of Ptolomy, but more agreeing in situation, with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Emporie by him called Arabia. The fairest Town of the whole Peninsula, of great strength,

both by Art and Nature, well-traded, and well-fortified, having a large capacious Haven, seldome without good store of shipping, and containing to the number of six thousand persons. Once a distinct Kingdome of itself, but treacherously surprized by the Turks, Anno 1538. and therewith all the rest of the Countrey made afterwards the seat of a Turkish Beglerbeg, under whom, and him of Zebit, are sup∣posed to be no fewer than thirty thousand Timariots. 10. Oran, the Lock and Key of the Southern O∣cean. 11. Thema, or Theman, the same I take it, which our later travellers call Zeman, situate more within the land, affirmed by Benjamin the Jew, surnamed Tuledensis, to be a Town of 15 miles square, but to have within the walls thereof great quantity of ground for tillage. 12. Zarval, a retiring place of the Caliphs, when they lived in this Countrey. 13. Hor, on the point or Promontory called Chorodemus, a Garrison not long since of the Kings of Ormus. 14. Muskahat, on the Persian Gulf, neer the point of Land called Cape Rozelgate; opposite to Surat, in the East India, and possessed by the Portugals, who have fortified it with a well-built Castle, for defence of their ships and Frigots which fre∣quent those Seas. Of no great note till the taking of Ormus by the Persians, many of the Inhabitants whereof were since setled here. Of the affairs of this Countrey we shall speak anon; having first took a brief view of the Ilands which belong unto it.