346 SOCIAL STATE OF THE ARABS. 



is the article of expense, which has been estimated 

 at 40,000/. or 50,000/. per annum, if the communica- 

 tion is made monthly. But, though in abeyance in 

 the mean time, it is highly probable that the plan 

 will be carried into effect.* The changes at present 

 contemplated in the government and policy of India 

 will render it of vast importance to establish a 

 shorter and cheaper line of intercourse than by the 

 Cape of Good Hope ; and perhaps the period is not 

 very remote when the commerce of the East will 

 resume its ancient channel, and the great trading 

 capitals of Europe and Asia be brought, by the mar- 

 vellous agency of steam, within a few days' journey 

 of each other. 



The population of Arabia cannot, perhaps, be very . 

 accurately ascertained. In the towns and districts 

 belonging to Nejed, Mengin reckons 50,945 males, 

 and 231,020 women and children. Its whole mili- 

 tary force consisted of 41,100 infantry and 8620 

 cavalry. The population of Hejaz, Burckhardt com- 

 puted at 150,000, the greater proportion of which 

 are Harb Bedouins. The territory of Sinai, south 

 of a line drawn from Suez to Akaba, he supposed 

 might contain nearly 4000 ; but the number dimin- 

 ishes in years when pasturage is scarce. Yemen 

 is reckoned to have about a million of inhabitants, 

 most of whom belong to the sect of the Zeidites. 

 The entire population of the Arabian peninsula 

 Head states at 11,000,000; Malte Brun thinks it 

 may probably amount to 12,000,000 ; a number 

 which, if united by a system of regular government 

 and acting under one political head, might prove a 

 formidable enemy to the countries once overrun by 

 their warlike ancestors. That this vast region was 

 anciently more rich and populous than it is now there 

 is undeniable evidence in its own deserts. The 



* Captain Head estimates that a monthly voyage would leave 

 balance of no less than 52,486/. of annual profits. 



