The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-03-26
Ell Mehdps Horde.

peOplbN DN uOIles OF Arabs Ol various
tribes, whose number is computed TO
be between thirty and forty millions.
The Arab-and i'm this nomenclature,
besides the natives of Arabia proper, all
the inhabitants of the northern and half
of the eastern portion of Africa are to
be comprehended- singular race.
Wild and ferocious, like the savages of
the far west, the Arabs are endowed
with a kcener intellect and q highly
nervous temperament, a characteristic
which has impressed itself upon the
Spanish nation by reason of contact.
Unlike, however, the aborigines of
America, who arc stOlid, content with
hunting and the qualification of their
natural wants, the Arabs are ever rest
less and aggressive, and prey upon their
tellOw-beings Although very dark In
complexion, they are not negroes; their
hair is coarse but smooth.
Their habitations are principally on
the borders Of the streams, and, in the
interior countries they sink wells, where
practicable, and cluster around them,
forming villages and towns, their houses
consisting Of mud walls and matched,
cOnical roofs
Living.in a states of nature, their
wants are but few, consequently they
are not forced to extra eNertiOn to
supply them. They live on the simplest
diet. Their staple food is darru millet,
which they pulverize and make into
bread. Very little animal food is used
by them. Dates and camels' milk con-
stitute the luxury indulged i'm by the
well to do among them. Their agri-
culture is therefore confined to the
raising of millet and few other fari-
naceous articles. such as beans, backla,
or lupens ETC., in the most primitive
manner.
in the matter of raiment they are,
owing to the nature of the climate in a
state of almost complete nudity, only a
scarf being wound lightly around their
loins. Their other occupations consist
in collecting ostrich feathers tusks of
elephants, SIENNA, and gum-arabic; the
| latter is indigenous to the country, and
is extracted from the acacia urnJjca q
small tree which forms vast forests in
the hottest regions of Africa. All these
sink, however, into insignifcance COM
pared with the profits in slaves in
selling which they are mainly engaged.
Egypt and Arabia provide markets
for the disposal of their productions, as
well as for the procurement of their
wants, which consists of coffee, tobacco,
arms and ammunition, cotton cloth and
knicknacks The former is reached by
the Nile, and the latter by the way Of
Suakim, q seaport on the Red Sea. As
the last is difficult of access, owing to
the necessary land journey, the Nile is
! preferred.
They live in a state of barbaric indie
pendence, under the control of petty
chiefs called sheiks, who have assumed
supremacy over their representative
communities by virtue of their religi-
Gus character and extra sanctitv.
The introduction of Mohammedanism
| among the children of the desert did not
| contribute toward their moral and
social advancement. Indeed, wherever
Mohammedanism made its appearance
it has exercised a most pernicious in
| fluence over its vOtaries, more particu-
larly among the Arabs. 1t killed all
traces of civilization among the ancient
Egyptians, for which they were Justly
| celebrated and to which the Greeks
| owed their progress.
But this religion suited Arab procli-
Vities to a nicely; it was simple increed
and ministered to their brutal passions.
Divine unity and belief in Mohammed
as the true apostle of God were the only
| essential requirements. 1t encouraged
| pOlygamy and promised seventy-twO
houris in the life to come. 1t moreover
preached aggression and aggrandize-
ment, made it virtue to war against
unbelievers, and upheld the enslave-
| ment of captives. 1t not only legalized
their wOnted vocation, but opened a
regular market for the disposal of
| their chattels wherever Islamism pre-
vailed.
The peculiar construction of society
| among the MOhammedans is such as to
| render slave service Indispensable
Every household naturally requires
domestic service, both for personal at
| tendance and menial duties But seclu-
sion being one of the requirements Of
/ the Koran, MOhammedan women are
preCluded from entering into such serv-
ice, because they would thereby come
into contact with the male portion of q
family, which, according to their relig-
GUS idea of propriety, is unlawful. As
| to men who are not near relatives,
harems, or the apartments of women.
Hence Circassians are employed for
| personal attendance, and the blacks for
menial service.
Slaves being a staple commodity
among the Mussulmans, Mohammedan-
ism greatly tended to stimulate the
| ardor of the Arabs of Soudan to extra
eXertion, and the consequence has been
that the negroes of Central Africa have
been the sufferers. Frequent incur
siOns are made into their territories and
hOrdes are captured, who are either
employed to till the ground for the
| benefit Of their captors or sold into
slavery, both men and women.
Such was the character and condition
of Soudan prior to Mehemed Ali's con-
quest of Egypt, and it has not under