CHAPTER XI. 

 ARABIA, SYRIA, PALESTINE, ASIA MINOR, AND ARMENIA. 



ARABIA. 



THE Arabs are generally regarded as the most interesting as well as the most picturesque 

 and romantic race of people in the East. Their country is the great south-western peninsula 

 of Sinai, having an area of 1,230,000 square miles. The population is about 5,000,000. These 

 low figures (in proportion to the vastness of Arabia) are explained by the fact that at least 

 420,000 square miles of the country are desert, unproductive, and uninhabitable. 



The Arabs are one of the extensive Semitic families, differing from each other in some 

 details, but in all important racial characteristics essentially Caucasian in type. Few countries 

 contain a more homogeneous population. They are a remarkably handsome race, lithe and 

 well formed. The typical Bedouin of the desert has bronze-coloured skin, black coarse hair, 

 large eyes, dark and bright, aquiline nose, and features generally well shaped. The beard and 

 moustache are apt to be scanty. On the average the European excels the Arab in physical 

 strength. The inferiority of the Bedouin in height and bulk may be put down to the hardships 

 endured for generation after generation. The Arabs ai'e clean in their persons, and take great 

 care of their teeth, which are generally fine. Courage and temperance are the Arab's leading 

 virtues, while his chief failings are a lack of scruple in pecuniary dealings and a spirit 



, m' .!/ **/-.. .V. n-Hm ,( 1 t,, '',. /'"/ .v/-,,/, K.C. 



PRISONERS AND JAILORS IN I'HISON-YAKD, NAR-HA-BAND, PERSIA. 



241 



