Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-31


was Swept Out Of Existence Nearly
Two thousand Years Ago.
To the Union and American.
GREENBRIER, ALA, May 90, 1874
The recent catastrophe in Massaehu-
sets by the breaking of dam reminds
me of similar incident In fhe history
of Arabia, which is well authenticated.
The reign of Akran forms memora-
BILE epoch In Arabian history, on ac-
count of the political changes alleged
to have been occasioned by the food of
FL Arem. The Mohammedan writer's
dwell at great length on this catastro-
phe, mixing its details with a variety
of fabulous circumstances. The terri
tory of Saba, though naturally fertile,
had, according to Navarro and Masou-
di, who have written elaborate treatises
on this famous deluge, been rendered
almost uninhabitable from the impetu-
osity of the mountain torrents, which
destroyed their houses, harvests and
vineyards, and the whole produce of
their industry. With a view to impose
some barrier to these ruinous floods,
one of their Kings, Saba or Lockman,
constructed a huge mole or bank,
stretching across the valley which
was about quarter of a mile In
breadth, at the lower extremity of the
adjacent mountains. 1t was built of
solid masonry, the blocks of marble
being cemented with bItumen and
strengthened with bars of iron. 1t
rose to great height above the city,
March, and was deemed SO strong that
many had their houses erected on its
sides. The valley to the distance of
FIVE leagues was thus converted into
vast lake l20 feet In depth, and receiv-
ing, according to Abulfeda, the tribu-
tary waters of seventy streams, some
of which were conducted into 1t by ar
tifcial channels. In this mound were
thirty sluices at three different heights,
each about a cubit In diameter,
through which the waters issued, and
were conducted with the aid of maehi-
merry through smaller canals to the
fields, gardens and houses of the In
habitants. March thus became, as
Phny calls it, the mistress of cities,
and diadem In the brow of the uni
verse.
This golden age of Arabian antiqui-
ty is a favorite theme with their poets
and historians, who expatiate on the
extensive fields and forests of Saba,
its beautiful edifces and numerous or
chards- A good horseman, says Ma
soudi, could scarcely ride over the
length and breadth of this cultivated
country in less than month;
and the traveller might wan
der from one extremity to the
other without feeling the heat of
the sun, for the thick foliage of the
trees afforded continual shade.
Its luxuries were proverbial-a pure
cir, a serene sky, wealth, without its
cares and inconvenience, all conspired
to render March the retreat Of every
blessing that can make life agreeable.
The happy natives enjoyed among their
groves and vineyards a peaceful and
palmy security, clothed IN embroidered
garments of green silk, and rewarded
with a double increase of their fiocks
and their fields.
The kings were virtuous like their
subjects. Their dominion, mild and
equitable at home, vas acknowledged
and respected by the surrounding ma
tives, for no enemy assailed them whom
they had not defeated, and everyregion
which they invaded had submitted to
their arms. The capital itself, We are
gravely told by Turkish geographer,
was distinguished by twelve peculiari-
ties, not less attractive than its abund-
ant streams and delicious fruits; Meth
er serpents, flies, nor other troublesome
insects were to be found in it; strangers
infested with vermin, particularly the
third plague of the Egyptians, no
sooner entered it than they were re-
heved; none of its citizens were liable
to sickness or disease, the sick, the blind,
the manned, the paralytic from other
quarters might all berestOred by bathing
in its waters; no change of dress was
necessary, such was the mildness of
the climate; their wives knew not the
pangs Of child-bi and never lost
the charms of youth. All these imag-
mary fehcities, however, depended on
the strength and preservation of their
mound; the effect of time If built by
Saba, it must have stood about LOO
years. and weight of the water began
insensibly to undermine its founda-
tons.
The King was aHprised of the danger
by Amru Mazikia. and a noted female
soothsayer, Dharifa, an interpreter of
dreams and visions, who announced by
many terrible signs and prodigies the
approaching devastation of March.
The incredulous Prince disregarded
every admonition, but Amru having
disposed of his property, resolved, with
a number. of followers, to seek safety in
a timely flight. The bursting of the
waters Immediately overwhelmed the
city and country, destroying fields,
focks, vineyards and villages, and re-
duced that fertile province to stateof
utter desolation. Such is history of
the famous deluge of Ell Arem.
As the Sabans were a proud and
idolatrous race, the Koran (chap. 34)
describes this disaster as a judicial pun
ishment from Observation-Disclosures we
sent against them the inundation
of Ell Harem, and we changed
their double gardens into gardens
producing bitter fruit; this we gave be-
cause they were ungrateful."
Reservoirs similar to that of March,
on smaller scale are not uncommon in
Yemen and other parts of the East.
Those that supply COnstantinople are
constructed after the same manner.
Abulfeda mentions one near Emesa
Hons in Syria, which the natives at
tribute to Alexander the Great; and
another at Tastar, in Persia, which
raised the water of a neighboring river
to the level of the city. Tavernier and
Chardin have described one very much
resembling that of Saba, built at the
extremity of pleasant valley near
Ispahan, for the purpose of collecting
the rills and melted SHOWS from the
surrounding mountains.
No point in Arabian chronology has
been disputed with more learning than
the date of this inundation. Most of
the native historians have fixed it about
the time of Alexander the Great, but
little credit is due to their loose calcu-
lqtion.
They all agree, however, that it hap
pened in the reign of Akran, or of his
son Duhabshan. Reiske places it 80 or
40 years and DeSacy l4s, after the