collected may sometimes prevent mistakes. If the place be not found in this Gazetteer under one name, probably it may under another. Thus Accaron is the same with Ekron, Amathis is the same as Hamath, Gazara with Gozor, Bethsura with Bethshur, Bosora with Bo. sor, &c. Sometimes the same place has different names, or seems to have, from the mistakes of copyists, or a change in the pronunciation in the lapse of ages, as well as the different terminations of the languages into which the word is translated. Thus Zabadeans, which in Maccabees is said to be the name of some Arabians, is probably a corrupt reading for Nabatheans, and so of other names, noticed in the margin of our bibles.

APHARSACHITES, or APHARSATHCHITES, people sent by the kings of Assyria to inhabit the country of Samaria, in the room of those Israelites, who had been removed beyond the Euphrates, Ezra v, 6. They with the other Samaritans opposed the rebuilding of the walls of Je

rusalem.

APHEK, a city of Syria near Libanus, on the banks of the Adonis, between Heliopo. lis and Byblos. Probably it is

the same mentioned by Paul Lucas, which has been swallowed up in a lake, nine miles in circuit, in which may be seen several houses entire under the water. The ancients say, that the soil in this region was bitumenous, which confirms those who suppose, that the earth under the city being consumed, the city sunk at once; and a lake has risen over it. 1 Kings xx, 26.

Aphek,the name of several other cities mentioned in Scripture, 1. Aphek in the tribe of Judah where the Philistines encamped, when the ark was brought from Shiloh, which was taken by them in battle, 1 Sam. iv, 1, 2, &c. It is thought to be the same with Aphekah, mentioned in Josh. xv,53. 2.Aphek, mentioned in the valley of Jezreel, where the Philistines encamped, while Saul and his army were near Jezreel, upon the mountains of Gilboa, i Sam. xxix, 1, &c. 3. Aphek, a city. belonging to the tribe of Asher, and the country of the Sidonians; Josh. xix, 30, and xiii, 4.

APPII-FORUM, a place in Italy about 50 miles from Rome; so called from the same Appius, who gave name to the Appian way. Lat. 41, 25.

APPOLONIA, a city of Macedonia through which and

Amphipolis, St. Paul passed in his way to Thessalonica, Acts. xvii, 1; where Cesar Augustus learned the Greek language. The name also of a city in the west of Canaan. AR, ARIEL of MOAB, or RABBATH MOAB, Numb. xxi, 28; Isa. xxix, 1; Deut. iii, 11, &c. The capital of the Moabites situated upon the river Arnon which divided it in two. St Jerome, says that this city was entirely destroyed by an earthquake, while he was a young man.

ARABIA, desert of, that desolate region in which the Israelites wandered forty years, after leaving Egypt.. The Mahometans reduce these forty years to forty days. One of their poets sarcastically says of the Jews, they are always wandering in a desert.

ARABIA, a celebrated country of Asia, bounded west by the Red Sea, and the isthmus of Suez; north-east by the Euphrates, which divides it from Diarbeker, the ancient Mesopotamia; east by the gulf of Persia and Ormus, and south by the Indian ocean. On the north this country runs up to an angle, about 100-miles east of Palmyra, which is not included in Arabia. Arabia lies between Lat 12, 30, and

31, 30 north, and Long. 34, and 59 east, being 1800 miles in length from the strait of Babelmandel to the opposite point on the Euphrates. The medial breadth is about 800 miles. From the proximity of the Euphrates to the Mediterranean, Arabia is a peninsula; and one of the largest in the world. Arabia Proper, however is more narrow, including little more than was anciently called Arabia Felix. We learn from scripture, that the first division of this country was into Arabak, and Kedem the first signifying west, the latter east, denoting the situation of the two regions. More than two thousand years ago, Ptolemy divided the peninsula into three parts, Arabia Petrea, Arabia Deserta, Arabia Felix.

Arabia Petrea was bounded by Syria and Arabia Deserta, on the east; by Egypt, or the isthmus of Suez, which separates Asia from Africa, on the west; by Palestine, the lake Asphaltites, and ColoSyria on the north, and by Arabia Felix on the south. This tract admitted of little cultivation, being in great part covered with sand and rocks, with here and there a fruitful spot. The metropolis was Petra, by the Syrians called

Rakam, and by the scriptures Joktheel.

Arabia Deserta, was bounded on the north by the Euphrates, which separated it from Mesopotamia; on the west by Syria, Judea, and Arabia Petrea; on the east by a ridge of mountains, which separated it from Babylonia and Chaldea; on the south by Arabia Felix, from which it was separated by a ridge of hills. By far the greatest part of this section of the country, as well as the preceding, was a lonesome desert, diversified only with plains of sand and mountains of rocks. Unless sometimes at the equinoxes, these regions were never refreshed with a shower of rain. The few vegetables, which struggled for existence, were scorched by burning suns, which drank up the scanty dews of the night. Hot poisonous winds are often fatal to travellers. The most intolerable is called Samiel. A thick haze gives notice of its approach; at sight of which the people throw themselves with their faces on the ground, and so continue till the gale is over, which sometimes is only momentary in its continuance. Those, who neglect this precaution, suffer instant death. The immense fields of burning sands, when roused by the

howling winds of the desert, are agitated like the rolling billows of the ocean; they rise into hills and mountains; whole caravans, men and beasts, are buried and lost. In this country the tribes of Israel wandered forty years; manna was rained from heav en for their support; for here are no pastures to support flocks or herds; here are no vallies of corn; no trees of fruit; no olive yards, nor vines, blushing with grapes. All is is a lonesome desert, a region of desolation. No spacious inn, no hospitable cottage, welcomes the weary traveller; at night the sand is his couch; the heavens are his covering, the provision in his sack, and the water in his bottle, are his only support; his camels his only protectors. When he has prepared his frugal meal, the Arab ascends the highest hill, which is near, and calls to all his brethren of the faithful to come and partake with him, though probably, not a soul is within a hundred miles. This custom might have its origin in humanity and kindness; probably, sometimes a poor starving brother might be discovered among the burning sands. Wells and fountains of water are rarely found; still in these regions of barrenness

are scattered oases of fruitful land, like islands in the ocean. These are delighfnl spots to the miserable Arab. Here he encamps, till he has consumed every thing, which the soil has produced, and then he ventures across the frightful des. ert to find another verdant field.

Arabia Felix was bounded on the north by the two countries just described, on the south by the Red Sea; on the east and west, by part of that sea, the Arabian and Persian gulfs. In this region are Mecca and Medina. The soil is excellent, producing balm of Gilead, manna, myrrh, cassia,aloes, frankincense, spikenard; also cinnamon, pepper, cardamum, oranges, lemons, pomegranites, figs, and other fruits. Its coffee and dates are the best in the world; here is but little wood, and few trees of timber. A stranger first reaching these shores would doubt the propriety of the name, given to the country; but as he advances into the central parts, the woods dropping balm, the verdure of the hills, the luxuries of the vales, the soft breezes of cassia, and other perfumes, with the fruits of every climate, inviting his taste, soon convince him that he is in Arabia the Happy.

We have no certain account, when the above countries were first peopled; most probably, however, it was soon after the flood. The Oriental historians divide the Arabs into two classes, the old, lost Arabs, and the present. Concerning the former, nothing has come down to us, but the names of several tribes, and a number of remarkable traditions. The present Arabs descended from Kahtan, the same as Joktan, the son of Eber, a descendant of Ishmael. Ishmael and his mother Hagar, having been dismissed from the family of Abram entered into the wilderness of Paran, (see Paran.) The sacred historian also informs us, that while he resided in the wilderness, he married an Egyptian woman. The Arabian writers say that he also married the daughter of Modad, king of Hejaz, lineally descended from Jorham, the founder of that kingdom. By the Egyptian, he was probably the father of the Scenites, or wild Arabs.

The present inhabitants of the country are divided into such, as dwell in cities, and those who live in the fields. These last live in tents, in desert places, and are called Bedoweens, being much more honest than those in the cities.

The Arabs are, also, divided into pagans and Mahometans. These last are the people, who have in days past conquered a great part of Asia, Africa, and Europe. These were the founders of the four great monarchies of the Turkish, Persian, Morocco, and Mogul empires.

The Arabs have camels and the finest horses; in some parts are lions, tigers, wolves, bears, and jackalls. It is well known, that the Arabians put the greatest value on their horses. Of these they have two races, one of which are said to derive their origin from the studs of king Solomon. However this may be, they are capable of the greatest fatigues, and can pass whole days without food. They are said also to show astonishing courage in the field of battle, and it is even asserted, that when a horse of this race finds himself wounded and unable much longer to bear his rider, he retires from the field, and conveys him to a secure place. If the rider fall on the ground, his horse will remain with him, and neigh till assistance comes. They are brought up in their tents with the family, and are carefully tended, and as fondly caressed, as their children. The modern Arabs estimate their wealth, by the number of their camels. Possessing these,

The heat of this country, as in Turkey, and all over Arabia, makes it pleasant for the inhab itants to sleep in the open air. Hence their houses, which are generally but one story high, are flat on the top. This practice may account for the early knowledge these nations obtained of astronomy, and explain several passages of scripture.

The different rooms of their houses have no communication, excepting with the hall. Their kitchens and office" houses are separate from the mansion house. Their furni- · ture consists chiefly of carpets; their beds are two thick cotton quilts.

Their mosques, like our meeting houses, are buildings for religious purposes; they are square, and of stone, and much alike in all Mahometan countries. Before the great door is a court, paved with marble, having low galleries round it; the roof is supported by marble pillars. These galleries are