Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-28
7LE KNOWN OF
INTERIOR OF THE
ARABIAN DESERT
Few Travellers Have Pene-
trated Beyond the Coun-
try Close to Coast-New
Kingdom Proclaimed.

Washington, Dec. 2s.-The proclama-
ton of the Grand Shereef of Mecca an
nouncing the formation of the new
kingdom Of Arabia gives especial time
Hness to a communication to the Ma
tional Geographic society at it's head
quarters at Washington from Archi-
bald Forder, Of Jerusalem, a part OF
which is issued as one of the society5
series Of war geography bulletins. Mr..
Forder described Arabia as one Of the
oldest known parts of the earth. fl >
says:
Long before the sons OF Jacob went
down into Egypt, the sons Of Ishmacl
had settled in the land providence had
assigned them. The boundaries Of
Arabia are outlined in the Bible as
early as Genesis XIV. is. Probably
many centuries ago Palestine, Syria
and the Sinaitic Peninsula were i'm
portant parts of Arabia. Isaiah speaks
ofFit as the desert Of the sea XXI,
ID. and when one considers it land
largely desert, almost entirely sur
rounded by water, we conclude that the
ancient seer was not far wrong in his
designation of the land. Arabia is be-
tween Egypt and Persia. to put it wide
ly, and between India and Europe. 1t
has a seacoast of about 1000 miles.
FEW PENETRATE INTERIOR.
mo land so little attracts the at
tention of the Spectator, hunter. ad-
venturer, or traveller as Arabia, and Yet
no country presents so large or new
field. Many are tho obstacles to ne
faced and overcome ere one can see and
learn for oneself what is beyond the
mysterious and almost waterless belt
of uninviting desert that almost en-
circles this little known land, but few
have penetrated the country from diff
ferent points and each has shed some
light on the interior.
THE first and perhaps the most DIFF
ficult obstacle with which the traveller
had to contend prior to the outbreak
the European war was the rigid per-
sistence Of the Turk, who practically
controlled the entire coastline Of
Arabia up to the time Of the revolt of
the Grand Shereefs followers a few
months ago, but who never held sway
far inland. Travellers landing on the
coast with the intention of proceeding
to he interior were met by smiling Of
ficials who politely requested their
permit from Constantinople, and on
failing to produce that were recon-
mcnded to procure the same by tele-
graphing to their diplomatic represent
alive in the Turkish metropolis-a
.ostly and usually hopeless procedure.
MANY DIFFICULTIES.
III, however, an entrance was gained,
as has been done, troubles of other
kinds had to be overcome, such as the
difficulties of transported the su-
perstition of the natives and their dis
like of the Christian, the las perhaps
the most dangerous If not the most for
midable.
Arabia is probably one of the old
est of the Oriental countries and at
different times has played important
roles in the making of the worlds his
tory and the probability Is that in the
revival of the Orient 1t will yet figure
prominently once more.
THE northwest part OF Arabia Is
famous for its many -hued mountains,
rocks and crags, into and out of which
has been hewn many fine tomb.
temple, dwelling and theater by the
Nabathean, Roman, Greek or Egyptian,
all of whom have left their mark be-
Hluu lleHl.
WATER GREAT NEED.
"INhe great need of the Arabian pen
insula is water, for without that all-im-
portant factor of everyday life little
can be accomplished, and the entire
absence of running water in any shape
DIT form accounts largely for the lack
of any forward movement or attempt
at industrial or manufacturing achieves
nents.
Where water l. otainable II Is gen.
orally from wells of great depth, caus-
ing large amount of labor to get it 70
the surface. Some of these wells are
evidently ancient. as indicated by the
stones of many courses near the
mouth and the deep grooves worn by
he ropes of the drawers during many
centuries. Some of these grooves are
as much as nine inches deep in stones
rs hard as marble"
FRANCE RATiFlES TREATY.
Paris, Dec. 2S.-A decree issued yes