[Footnote 166: This outline of the Arabian history is drawn
from the Bibliotheque Orientale of D'Herbelot, (under the
names of Aboubecre, Omar Othman, Ali, &c.;) from the Annals
of Abulfeda, Abulpharagius, and Elmacin, (under the proper
years of the Hegira,) and especially from Ockley's History
of the Saracens, (vol. i. p. 1 - 10, 115 - 122, 229, 249,
363 - 372, 378 - 391, and almost the whole of the second
volume.) Yet we should weigh with caution the traditions of
the hostile sects; a stream which becomes still more muddy
as it flows farther from the source. Sir John Chardin has
too faithfully copied the fables and errors of the modern
Persians, (Voyages, tom. ii. p. 235 - 250, &c.)]