The Yale expositor., 1910-11-04

I'm all likelihood II would sound
strange to the ears of most peo-
III pie to be told that the least
~ known portion of the earth is the
old Bible land of Arabia. 1t is.
however. true that the land which
many scholars believe was the home
OF the Hebrews before they reached
the plain of Shinar, and which at diff
ferent times has been the seat OF a
great civilization, is now the darkest
part OF the earth. darker even than
any portion of Africa.
An immense country in size, Arabia
Is as large as all of the United States
east of the Mississippi river, or larger
than all of the countries of Europe
combined with the exception of Rus
STA and Scandinavia. That country is
almost without rivers and until re-
Gently was without railroads. The
only ship which Sails over the great
desert is the camel A journey along
the Red sea coast from Suez to Alden
takes eight days, from the Red sea to
the Persian gulf 40 days, or to follow
about the coast line Of the country as
an Arab sometimes does, It is a jour
ney of a whole year
Travellers have frequently penetra-
ted the desert south of Palestine or
crossed its northern part from Damas-
rus to Bagdad, but there we're but two
or three who succeed In reaching
the city OF Mecca and the South
Arabian city OF Sana, which was the
home of the queen Of Sheba. No
Christian has succeeded In traversing
the land from the north to the south.
Cause Of the Desert.
The general impression Of the Ara
bian desert is vast sea of sand.
Quite to the contrary the surface of
the greater part of It is almost as
hard and as smooth as floor. Along
the western and southern coasts there
are barren. rocky ranges raising their
peaks to the height of 5000 feet, but
most OF the interior is level plain of
great fertility. II Is a desert Just be-
cause of the lack of irrigation. After
the hard rains of winter vegetation
springs forth, making the dry places
look like flower gardens. Water may
be found in nearly every part OF the
desert by digging to a sufficient depth.
Here and there It comes to the sur
face, forming an oasis about which a
cluster of date palms grows. II is in
the larger of these oasis that the des-
ert encampments are usually fixed.
In central Arabia, where but two or
three white men have ever been,
there are parts of the desert which
are sandy. There the sand is OF a
reddish or orange color and lies In
belts many miles in width. Drifting
Just like snow. 1t changes its position
after every storm.
AS a recompense to the desert
dweller for the poverty of the parched
plains and sandy wastes, nature has
provided him with the strange mirage
which is visible In nearly every part
OF the desert. Many kinds OF trees
lakes, men and figures appear upon
the desert horizon, where the Arabs
know that only desert can exist
Sometimes the mirage SENS so real
that the Arabs who are accustomed
TO seeing ID daily are deceived by t.
Hospitality TO Travellers.
In the desert. especially among the
tribal encampments. there are inns OF
lodging places provided for travellers
Along the lonely pilgrim routes lead
ing to the sacred cities there are large
khans 10 protect the traveller bott
from the heat of the summer and tho
rains In winter, also from the rowing
bands of thieves. These are large
open Enclosures with aicoves arranged
along the inner sides of the walls e
serve as lodging places. Aside from
the alcoves. a low platform upor
which the Arabian prays and the dos