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of the contrary; the motto of nature is semper eadem ; trueto herself and always consistent, she is the same in everycountry and in every age.
How much soever we lament our own insufficiency toeffect these great purposes, the performance of them hasbecome a duty, and we propose to deliver, to the best ofour ability, all our own information, with wdiat we cancollect from others, in the most simple and perspicuousmanner possible, and to the best of our judgment andbelief.
We well remember to have read in the history of Arabia,of such great, such liberal instances of benevolence amongthat people, (Mahometans,) as would shake the belief ofthe most partial to self or country,—would shame theirpaltry insignificancy. To check the over weanings of par-tiality, to soften prejudice, to declare the truth, and tovindicate the Providence of Heaven, are favourite em-ployments with us: with an intention to promote theseviews, we shall briefly detail an incident from the Arabianhistory, which will serve to evince that humanity and bene-volence are of no specific country or people, confined to noparticular climate, faith, or soil; but that they are universalas the sweet breath of heaven, and exist among all people,unshackled by any particular formula of religious belief . 1
1 The solitary peninsula, Arabia, is encompassed by the most civilized nationsof the ancient world; the merchant is the friend to mankind; and the annualcaravans imported the first seeds of knowledge and politeness into the cities, andeven the camps of the desert. The Arabs have always blended a very consider-able degree of beneficence, hospitality, and politeness with their ferocity. Thesame hospitality which was practised by Abraham , and celebrated by Homer, isstill renewed in the camps of the Arabs ; and examples of this kind among them ex-ceed any thing that can be produced from other nations. The contrary vice washeld among them in such contempt, that one of their poets upbraids the inha-bitants of a certain district, in terras of bitter reproach, alleging that none oftheir men had hearts to give, nor their women to deny. After the time of Maho-met, they were no less liberal than their ancestors had been. Sale (Prcf. Koran,p. 21.) mentions the following singular instance: “ Three men were disputing inthe court of the Caaba, who was the most liberal person among the Arabs . Onegave the preference to Abdallah t another to Kais, and a third to Arabah. It wasproposed, however, for the decision of the dispute, that each should go to hisfriend and ask his assistance. Abdallah’s friend found him with his foot in thestirrup, mounting his camel, and just setting out on a journey, and thus accostedhim, * Son of the uncle of the apostle of God , 1 am a traveller, and in distress.’Upon which Abdallah instantly dismounted, and presented the pilgrim with hiscamel, its rich caparison, some vests of silk, and a purse of 4000 pieces ofgold. The servaut of Kais informed the second suppliant, that his master wasasleep, but that he had rather relieve his necessity than awaken his master; ac-cordingly, he gave him a purse of 7000 pieces of gold ; assuring him it was allthe money they then had in the house; and lie directed him to go to those whohad the charge of the camels, with an order for a camel and a slave. When