Page 394 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXI.J TRAVELS IN OMAN. 355

quered wilds to devastate and ravage other
regions, it furnishes a subject worthy our

particular attention and study.
Arabia was among the first nations which

felt the effects of civilization ; and although
it was here that the first large societies of
men united themselves for mutual protection,

yet, by an anomaly in the history of the world,
their government has remained with but slight

additions to its original simple and patri­
archal form, from the earliest periods to which
historical information reaches until the pre­

sent moment. The remark applies especially

to the southern part of this vast continent, for
we learn by the traditions of the country, and
the authority of eastern writers, that shortly

after the deluge, a remnant of the few who
were saved by divine mercy from that awful

catastrophe, settled at Al Akas, in the pro­
vince of Hadram&ut. These were said to have
been of the tribe of the son of Uz, the son of

Shem, and from this stock Arabia is supposed
to have been peopled.

2 a 2