the descendants of Ishmael. They are called also Ishmaelites and Saracens; and lastly, by the general name of Arabians.

As to the Hagarens, they dwelt in Arabia the Happy, according to Pliny. Strabo joins them with the Nabathœans, and Chaviloteans, whose habitation was rather in Arabia Deserta. Others think their capital was Petra, otherwise Agra, and consequently they should be placed in Arabia Petraea. The author of the lxxxiii. Psalm, ver. 6. joins them with the Moabites; and in the Chronicles it is said (1 Chr. v. 10.), that the sons of Reuben, in the time of Saul, made war against the Hagarens, and became masters of their country eastward of the mountains of Gilead. This therefore was the true and ancient country of the Hagarens. When Trajan came into Arabia, he besieged the capital of the Hagarens, but could not take it. The sons of Hagar valued themselves of old upon their wisdom, as appears by Baruch iii. 23.