The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1910-11-11

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
sia and Scandinavia. That country Is
almost without rivers and until re-
Gently was without railroads. The
only ship which s,ils 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-
Gus to Bagdad, but there were 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 a vast sea of sand.
Quite to the contrary the surface of
the greater part of 1t is almost. as
hard and as smooth as a 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. 1t 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 sufficient depth.
Here and there it comes to the sur
face, forming an oasis about which a
cluster of date palms grows 1t 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. it 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 il 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 it daily are deceived by it.
Hospitality to Travellers.
In the desert, especially among the
tribal encampments, there are inns Or
lodging places provided for travellers.
Along the lonely pilgrim routes lead
ing to the sacred cities there are large
khans to protect the traveller both
from the heat of thu summer and the
rains in winter, also from the rowing
bands Of thieves. These are large
open Enclosures with alcoyes arranged
along the inner sides of the walls to
serve as lodging places. Aside from
the alcoves, low platform upon
which the Arabian prsys and the des-
ert well. the inn offers few con-
veniences, for in Arabia every one
carries with him his bed and cooking
utensils. There is no charge for
passing a night in the desert hotel
The wandering Arabs of every en-
campment possess a great tent.
where stranger is always welcome.
It is called the multi and is like all
other tens excepting in size. The
traveller on arriving makes his way to
1t. Stopping before the tent he gives
his horse to an attendant, sticks his
long spear into the ground at the tent
entrance and leaving his sandals out
side he enters, salutes and squats
down on the ground to wait until some
OF the bitter Arab coffee is served to