Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-05

counted for by bad government, As every
where else In the domtnions Of the Sultan
81 tSs Ottoman AEaos oca. Das.
ceive no salarisg andSatve on blackmaii.
Hence whenevef@a citizen gets little
ahead, when he shows.Signs Of prosperity,
der and persecution by the tax gatherer
and every other REPRESENTATIVE of the gov
eminent. There Is nor incentive for the
coffee growers to exteud their orchards or
to increase their product
to face with the fact, that Arabia is nearly
half as large as the United States. Its area
IL almost as great aasthat of India and
Is nearly equal to that Of our states east OF
the Mississippi river. The population II un-
known, because :there-has never been
census. but 1t is supposed to be between
seven and twelve millions. The distance
from north to south Ii more than thou
sand miles, and from east to west 1t varies
from 900 to 800. Yet In this enormous ter
ritory there is no centralized authority.
The interior is governed by petty sheiks,
each being absolute over the members OF
his own tribe. Along coast line of nearly
1000 miles are only six ports. where the
Sultan Of Turkey maintains pasha gov
ernors and garrisons to protect the collect
ors OF customs, who are required to pay
him certain amount of tribute every year.
and they wiring 1t out Of the people in any
way they can.
The relationship between the government
at Constantinople and the Bedouins of Ara
bia is very slender, and Is due solely to the
cohesive power of the Mohammedan re-
llg1on. There Is no law in Arabia but the
Koran; there are no courts but the priests;
there are no mails, no post offices, no post
age stamps, and q person who wants to
communicate with a distant friend must
send his letter by a messenger, which IL
expensive, or by caravan, which is the
common way. There is no telegraph line,
no newspaper, no railroad and, strange to
say, not river in all that vast area ex-
cept few shallow, rocky beds, which dur
ing the spring bring down water from the
melting snow on the mountain tops to the
sea- but for nine months in the year are as
dry as a crematory.
The captain tells me that they produce
curious phenomenon. The coast of the Red
sea is lined with coral banks, built by those
mysterious and wonderful little masons
who, like some men / know, hate fresh
water. and wherever the spring floods fall
into the sea there Is always wide break
in the coral reef.
Capable Of Cultivation.
The mountains Of Arabia reach an alti-
tude Of over 10000 feet. and in spots where
borings have been made the sand is more
than 600 feet deep. 1t is the prevailing i'm
preston that Arabia Is vast expanse of
desert, but that Is mistake. There are
wide strips of barren sand. which are ire
cla1mable for cultivation only because they
cannot be reached by water, but thirds
Of the country Is capable of cultivation,
and, lying at an altitude of 5000 feet above
the sea. might produce cotton, sugar and
other semi-tropical staples in unlimited
quantities. Although there are no streams.
plenty Of water can be had for irrigation
purposes by digging twenty or thirty feet,
and the introduction Of windmills would
simplify the pumping problem. On the
coast 1t is intensely hot, and the humidity
Of the atmosphere during the summer sea-
son makes life almost uncomfortable. but in
the interior. upon the table lands along the
mountain slopes, and in the valleys, the
mercury seldom rises above IS degrees,
even in midsummer. While the direct rays
of the sun are intense. it Is cool in the
shade. and at night the mercury often falls
below 30.
More than two-thirds of the population
are Bedouin nomads, without permanent
places of abode, who live in tents made of
camers hair. just like the patriarchs of old.
They have enormous fiocks of sheep and
goats, and herds Of cattle and camels. They
follow the grass and move from place to
place with all their possessions. There are,
however. several prosperous cities of con-
siderable population and commerce. Trade
is conducted BY camel caravans, which
cross the desert regularly, and transport
enormous quantities of dates, wool and
other merchandise.