OF

ARABIA,

ANCIENT AND MODERN:

CONTAINING

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY-AN ACCOUNT OF ITS INHABITANTS,
ANTIQUITIES, POLITICAL CONDITION, AND EARLY COMMERCE-THE LIFE
AND RELIGION OF MOHAMMED-THE CONQUESTS, ARTS, AND LITERATURE
OF THE SARACENS-THE CALIPHS OF DAMASCUS, BAGDAD, AFRICA, AND
SPAIN THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT AND RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES OF THE
MODERN ARABS-ORIGIN AND SUPPRESSION OF THE WAHABEES-THE
INSTITUTIONS, CHARACTER, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS OF THE BEDOUINS;

AND A COMPREHENSIVE

VIEW OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY.

BY ANDREW CRICHTON.

WITH A MAP, AND TEN ENGRAVINGS BY JACKSON.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

SECOND EDITION.

EDINBURGH:

OLIVER & BOYD, TWEEDDALE COURT;
AND SIMPKIN & MARSHALL, LONDON.

MDCCCXXXIV.

DS 223 су 1834 V12

ENTERED IN STATIONERS' HALL.

Printed by Oliver & Boyd,

Tweeddale Court, High Street, Edinburgh.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

CHAPTER I.

THE ABBASSIDES, OR CALIPHS OF BAGDAD.

Accession of the Abbassides-Caliphs of that Dynasty-Almansor

-

-

Haroun al Raschid-Almamoun Motassem-Capricious
Cruelty of Motawakkel-Magnificence of the Caliphs-Weak-
ness and Corruption of their Government-Their Military Opera-
tions-Wars of Haroun al Raschid and his Successors with the
Romans-Victories of Nicephorus Phocas and John Zimisces
over the Moslems-Causes of the Downfal of the Abbassides-
Despotic Power of the Turkish Guards-Ravages and Cruelties
of the Karmathians-Dismemberment of the Empire into inde-
pendent Principalities-Persia usurped by petty Dynasties-Con-
quests of Mahmoud of Ghizni in India-Irruptions of the Tartars
-Togrul Beg appointed Viceroy of the Mohammedan Domi-
nions-Hoolaku lays Siege to Bagdad-Surrender and Pillage
of that Capital-Death of Mostasem and Extinction of the Ca-
liphate,...........................

..Page 13

CHAPTER II.

CALIPHS OF AFRICA, EGYPT, AND SPAIN.

The Aglabites or Caliphs of Cairoan-Military Exploits of the

Western Arabs-Reduction of Crete-Conquest of Sicily-In-

vasion of Italy-Pillage of Rome-Siege of Gaeta-Naval Vic-

tory of the Christians-Subjugation of Corsica and Sardinia by

the Saracens-Expulsion of the Aglabites-Moorish Kingdom

of Timbuctoo-Dynasty of the Fatimites in Egypt-Their Sub-

version by Saladin, Founder of the Ayubites-Dynasty of the

l-and