[Footnote 16: Pocock, Specimen, p. 57. Geograph. Nubiensis,
p. 52. Meriaba, or Merab, six miles in circumference, was
destroyed by the legions of Augustus, (Plin. Hist. Nat. vi.
32,) and had not revived in the xivth century, (Abulfed.
Descript. Arab. p. 58.)
Note: See note 2 to chap. i. The destruction of Meriaba by
the Romans is doubtful. The town never recovered the
inundation which took place from the bursting of a large
reservoir of water - an event of great importance in the
Arabian annals, and discussed at considerable length by
modern Orientalists. - M.]