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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



A PRIMITIVE DOOR IN JOWF 



In the absence of lumber throughout Arabia, palm tree trunks are used for the construc- 

 tion of doors. Although rude in form and appearance, they answer the purpose for which they 

 are made. 



cups being about all that is visible that 

 savors of daily life and needs. Most of 

 the houses are doorless, accounted for by 

 the scarcity of suitable wood. The only 

 doors I saw during my stay were those 

 that barred entrance into the palm groves 

 and gardens. These were interesting be- 

 cause of their rude and primitive con- 

 struction, being made of part of a palm 



trunk split down the middle and held 

 together with strips of hide. 



The abundant and luxurious date-palm 

 plantations are explained by the number 

 of deep wells that are found all over the 

 Jowf from which a never-failing supply 

 of water is drawn. The life-giving liquid 

 is drawn to the surface in huge skins 

 fastened to a rope attached to a camel 



