ARABIA

[s. 64] : A peninsula at the southwestern extremity of Asia, lying within latitiude 30° and 12° 45’ N., and longitude 32° 30’ and 60° E. Its land boundaries are Egypt on the northwest and Palestine and Syria on the northeast. Commencing at the northeast, the waters which succe ively surround it are: the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea. Its total area is estimated at over Arabia was formerly 1,000,000 square miles. divided and described by foreigners as consisting of Arabia Petraea, the rocky mountainous region in the north; Arabia Desert a, the vast desert lands, and Arabia Felix, the “Happy” land, on the shores of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. A study of the physical features of the country suggests a more rational division of the surface into equal thirds; one comprising the mountainous lands along the coasts; another the desert lands, which form almost a complete ring around the central plateau of tableland, which forms the third physical division. Beginning with the coast district at the northwest, the principal districts are: 1. The Sinaitic peninsula, a triangle with the Red Sea as its apex, Palestine for its base, and the gulfs of Suez and Akabah for its sides, corresponds very nearly to Arabia Petraea. 2. Hejaz extends from latitude 28° to 21° N. along the shore, and for a distance inland varying from 60 to 150 miles. It is for the most part sandy and stony, with only a few fertile spots around Medina and Kholeys, a few days’ journey north of Mecca. Around this holy city of the Mohammedan is the Haram, or Sacred Territory, at the southern extremity of the district. 3. Yemen occupies the remainder of the mountain coast as far south Aden, and consists of two portions. That part lying along the shore is called Tehamah, and is flat and rocky, while the inland part, stretching sometimes 300 miles to the east, is mountainous, with precipitous hills and fertile valleys. The oasis of the southern Jowf is also included in this district. 4. Aden, a small peninsula on the coast, about 100 miles east of Babel-Mandeb, with the island of Perim, at the entrance to the Red Sea, is subject to Great Britain. It includes in its district a smaller peninsula. Little Aden, and the settlement and town of Sheikh Othman, ten miles from Aden, in all 70 square miles. Its population (1901) is 43,974. Aden is simply a coaling station, but its position makes it of great strategic importance. 5. Hadramaut and Mahrah occupy the 1,200 miles of coast between Aden ana Cape Ras-el-Hadd. They have the same general features of the other coast districts a sandy or rocky shore, behind which mountain ranges stretch back into the great desert and little is known in regard to the interior, its inhabitants or products. 6. Oman and Hasa complete the line of coast districts, extending from Cape Rasel-Hadd to the head of the Persian Gulf. The mountains in Oman are the highest on the coast, and the strip of coast land in Hasa has extensive fertile tracts. Mascat, the capital of Oman, is the only good harbor. The central third of Arabia, especially Nejd, is the stronghold of the Arab nation. On the extreme north and northeast lies the desert, with as — — 47 Apos to lie the oasis of Jof and Teima, varying the monotony of tlie stony waste. South of the stony desert lie the Nefud, or sandy pa es, between whicli and Nejd is tlie district of Sliomer, witla its two parallel mountain ranges running northeast The principal provinces of the to southwest. nine into which Nejd is divided are: Ared, the central province, containing the capital, Riadh; Sedeyr, or Sudeir, in the highlands of the Toweyk mountain range, which runs north and south through the heart of Nejd; Yemamah, south of Ared, a fertile district, celebrated in native history as the home of brave men and beautiful women; and Woshem, a small but important district west of Ared. Of the desert surrounding Nejd, that portion lying to the southward is called the Dahna, or “Crimson,” from the color Of of the sand, and covers.50,000 square miles. not even the Bedouins have it little is known; traversed its full extent, and European travelers shrink from its heat and sterility. Climate: In the Sinaitic peninsula the air is dry, clear, and, in the main, healthy, with winter rains. The summer temperature in the valleys In is exce ively high, but the nights are cool. general the sandy slopes of the coast districts are hot and unhealthy, with a cooler, more In the desert the healthy air in the mountains. heat is intolerable, and in the Nefud district This is a storm the deadly “simoom” blows. of a cyclonic nature, carrying in its center a noxious gas, which is death if inhaled in any quantity. It lasts from two to ten minutes at any one point, and the only way to escape it is to cover the mouth with a cloth and lie down on the ground, where the heavier pure air is found. Camels instinctively bury their noses in the sand, but horses are often killed by the gas. The dwellers in Arabia are divided into the nomadic Bedouins, and the dwellers in towns. 1. The Bedouins are the shepherds and herdsmen, who wander about the deserts from one They have been valley to another. fertile called brigands, because they consider themselves the lords of the land, and, in the absence of constituted authority, take summary methods to punish the traveler, whom they regard as a trespa er. In lieu of official fees for pa ports, they take whatever property they can lay hold of. By paying a fee to the first sheikh whose territory is invaded, an escort is secured to the traveler, giving safety in that district; a similar payment to the succe ive sheikhs will insure like protection; but the neglect of such an acknowledgment of their rights will lead to lo The Bedouin of property and sometimes of life. is not murderous by nature, but of nece ity, when his demands are resisted. There are northern and southern Bedouins. The southern or “pure” Bedouins are fewer in number and more savage in disposition. In all there are about 1,500,000 of the Bedouins. They recognize no authority save that of their chief, the sheikh, for they are thoroughly democratic, and consider every man equal. The chief may be such by the law of heredity, but is oftener chosen on account of his qualifications for the position. The Bedouin is nominally a Mohammedan, but he scorns the formalities of the Koran, and disregards its ceremonial requirements. Tho he be not far from Mecca, he does not mingle with the devout who go there, nor will he always spare the caravan of pilgrims Among some that pa es through his territory. Arabia of the tribes a lower religious belief exists; all gradations between sun-worship, tree-worship and no worship at all, have been found. Lying, perjury, sensuality, and theft are their vices, while fidelity and the observance of a promise to the extent which the romancers chronicle are not uncommon. With all their bad traits, they are to be admired for their shrewd common sense, allied with a sarcastic, humorous side of their character. Their dre is simple, and they carry staves provided with crooks, together with short knives and old matchlocks, with which they seldom fail to hit the mark. 2. The sedentary Arabs number about six sevenths of the entire population of the peninsula of Arabia. The Koreysh are the noblest of the race, and claim direct connection with the Prophet. Their clan ties and national feeling are very strong, and they own allegiance to their tribal head, the Sheikh, Imam, or Sultan. Where the doctrines of the Wahabees prevail the Mohammedan religion is followed with all its strictne of ceremonial and observances. Fetishism is found in Mahrah and places on the borders of the great desert. With belief in one God and observance of the rules of the Koran as to dealings between man and man, one naturally supposes that the people of Arabia would make no difficulty about tolerating the advances of sincere Christians. The rules of the Koran, however, as to generous dealings with men are commonly understood as limited to Mohammedans, and the degraded type of Christianity known to the Arabs makes them the more inclined to give full scope to their religions principle of non-intercourse with people outside of Islam. Death would certainly smite any Christian discovered in the Sacred territory of Arabia, and the risk of death would attend travel in any part of the interior of the country. It is for this reason that Mohammedanism is the only religion profe ed in Arabia at any distance from the coast-line. In person the Arab is tall, well formed, lithe, with dark hair and eyes. Physically and morally, the race compares favorably with any of the races of mankind; mentally, it is superior Special traits are found in the to most races. different provinces. The people of Hejaz are fickle; those of Yemen are noted for gentlene and pliability, together with revengefulne ; the tribes in Nejd po e a reputation for tenacity of purpose and dignity of deportment. love of sport and games is found among the and Hasa which is absent else races of A Oman where. Arabic is spoken in its purity in Nejd and Shomer, more inelegantly in the other provinces, until in the southern provinces it is merged into an African dialect. Education is deficient; the teaching of the young is carried on mainly in the household, where the father teaches his sons to read and write and to practise that politene which is notable among the Arab children. The total number of inhabitants of Arabia proper is estimated at about 6,000,000. Of this number the people of Hejaz (300,000) and Yemen (900,000) are admittedly subjects of the Sultan of Turkey. The other districts of Arabia are governed by their own chiefs {Emir Turkey claims the right to rule the or Imam). whole peninsula but has not yet been able to make good the claim. Arabian Armenian ChurcU Mi ions liave not found entrance to Arabia yet, owing to the determined attitude of Mohammedanism toward di ent from its teachings wherever it has power to enforce the death penalty. Two noble efforts have been made by loving service to break through the One of these is the barriers of fanaticism. Keith-Falconer Mi ion at Aden (now carried on by the UFS), with its chief station at Sheikh Othman on the high land back of the seaport. The other mi ionary effort for Arabia is that of the Arabian Mi ion of the RCA operating from Turkish and independent territory on the Persian Gulf, with three stations, of which the most effective and most hopeful form of work is that of the hospital and dispensary. Kamil, by Je up (H. H.), New York, 1898; Arabia, the Cradle of Islam, Zwemer (S. M.),New York. 1901; Keith as Falconer, Memorials of. Sinker (R.), Arabia: Journey through Central and Eastern, Palgrave, (W. G.), London, 1869. ARABIAN MISSION. See Reformed Church IN America, Board of Foreign Mi ions. 66