he simplicity and lifelike reality of these interesting stories, made eve

e more than the luxurious fancies of the Arab's mind, for they vividly set forth the love and hate, the craft and hypocrisy, the courage and revenge of his race. Moreover, they portray in a truly dra

worthy of careful consideration. A region that is the birthplace of a religion claiming near

historical side lights that are valuable; we shall also find in Arabic literature much to admire. The Arab is poetic and delights in imagery. There are Arabic po

onquests was not in the number of their soldiers but in the courage inspired by the Muhammadan religion. Death has no terrors for t

st, and hospitable. The mother not only takes care of the home but educates the children; a

ilk and cotton textiles were introduced into Europe by the Arabs. They claim to have used gunpowder as far back as the eleventh century. In the year 706 paper was made at Mecca and

s, the gate

TO

ople's flocks of sheep and herds of cattle for their own. Most likely there never was a Saracenic Empire. But there certainly was a time when Arabians controlled not only the Arabian peninsula, but also Syria and the fert

ltan of Turkey; two or three are included in the British Empire. But the country itself is very far removed from the rest of the world so far as accessibility is

all of it is arid. Long ago it was divided into Arabia Petr?a, Arabia Deserta, and Arabia Felix-that is, the rocky, the des

rom four thousand miles, there is scarcely a harbor in which a good-sized fishing schooner could find safe anchorage. Even at Aden a steamship cannot appr

her a merchant dwelling in a city along the coast, or a Bedouin wandering with flocks and herds, is a product of the desert and of the teachings of Islam. His black eyes twinkle with shrewdness and he is

rob or common enemy to fight, neighboring tribes easily find cause for fighting one another. Usually a quarrel over pastu

ss it. Even to the most liberal Arab, one who is not of the faith of Islam is a "dog of an unbeliever." Among Bedouins, not to rob the caravan containing the belongings of a Christian would be a sin

, as the case may be, is the head of the family, and his will is law. The tribe is governed by a sheik, who is simply a "boss." He does not inh

e hearth-rug and a divan cover are about the only furnishings. The cooking utensils are primitive-one or two kettles to a family; and of tableware there is practically nothing more than one or two platters. Meat is freely eaten a

disputes are settled by the sheik, and he is apt to emphasize his decisions by the free use of his lance shaft. Whenever it becomes necessary because of poor grazing, the whole clan or tribe may move to a distant place. All ho

s a heavy knife. Perhaps a few firearms may be carried, but they are generally either flintlocks or the older matc

abs with thei

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ents of natural history that the camel is the descendant of the llama kind which seems to have originated in the South American Andes. Just how or when the descent from the New World, which is really the Old World, to the Old World, which is really the New World, was made we are not informed; neverth

he two-hump animals. One variety is slim and comparatively light in weight. These animals, as a rule, are trained t

rarely brings more than one-fourth as much. The milk of the camel is equal to that of the best domestic cows and is greatly prized. The hair of several species surpasses sheep's wool in texture and is used in the finer kinds of cloth, and it is the most precious textile in high-priced Or

mals are neither so large nor so swift as American thoroughbred horses. The qualities that have made the Arabian horse famous are its beautiful proportions, endurance, and intelligence. Young colts mingle freely with their owners and attend

and two days in winter without drink. The pure, full-blood Arabian is never sold. It may be acquired only by gift, by c

is, only one of the two seeds within the husk comes to maturity. Most of the coffee is grown in Yemen and the adjoining vilayet

. The finest grade is sold to wealthy Turkish customers at from three to five dollars per pound; the inferior grades command prices varying from thirty cents to twic

lso many tons of mother-of-pearl shells. The yearly product of the fisheries is thought to exceed more than two millions of dollars in value. The pearls are found in a s

on the product. A few pearls may escape him, especially if he is temporarily blinded by th

supposed to make a pilgrimage at least once in his lifetime. The chief income of the inhabitant

closed space is a cube-shaped building called the Kaaba, which contains the famous sacred Black Stone. This stone, probably of meteoric origin, gives to the building its sanctity, and is a

o pollute the Holy Kaaba by his presence. A few infidels disguised as

athing and assuming the sacred garb. This suit consists of two woollen wrappers, one worn around the middle of the body and the ot

shave, anoint his head, pare his nails, or bathe until the end of the pilgrimage. Among the various rites to be performed after reaching Mecca

om Mecca; it also contains his tomb. Formerly no unbeliever was permitted to traverse the streets of Medina or look upon the tomb of the great prophet, but tourists are now allowed within the gates. T