s of remote ages speak of a certain Meleck Yarfrick, king of
Arabia Felix, who conducted a people called _Sabaei_[1] into Libya,
made himself master of that country, established his followers there,
and gave it the name of Africa. It is from these Sabians or _Sabaei_
that the principal Moorish tribes pretend to trace their descent. The
derivation of the name Moors[2] is also supposed, in some degree, to
confirm the impression that they came originally from Asia.

But, without enlarging upon these ancient statements, let it suffice to
say, that nearly certain ground exists for the belief that the original
Moors were Arabians. In confirmation of this impression, we find that,
during every period of the existence of their race, the descendants of
the primitive inhabitants of Mauritania have, like the Arabs, been
divided into distinct tribes, and, like them, have pursued a wild and
wandering mode of existence.

The Moors of Africa are known in ancient {21} history under the name of
Nomades, Numidae or Numidians, Getulae, and Massyli. They were by
turns the subjects, the enemies, or the allies of the Carthaginians,
and with them they fell under the dominion of the Romans.

After several unsuccessful revolts, to which they were instigated by
their fiery, restless, and inconstant temper, the Moors were at length
subjugated by the Vandals, A.D. 427.

A century afterward these people were conquered by Belisarius: but the
Greeks were in their turn subdued by the Arabs, who then proceeded to
achieve the conquest of Mauritania.

As, from the period when that event occurred, the Mauritanians or
Moors, who were thus suddenly converted to Mohammedanism, have
frequently been confounded with the _native Arabians_, it will be
proper to say a few words concerning that extraordinary people: a
people who, after occupying for so many centuries an insignificant
place among the nations of the earth, rapidly rendered themselves
masters of the greater part of the known world.

The Arabs are, beyond question, one of the most ancient races of men in
existence;[3] and {22} have, of all others, perhaps, best preserved
their national independence, and their distinctive character and
manners. Divided from the most remote times into tribes that either
wandered in the desert or were collected together in cities, and
obedient to chiefs who in the same person united the warrior and the
magistrate, they have never been subjected to foreign domin