ARABIA. 



923 



part of the country . These names are still in common use among Europeans; the natives, 

 however, divide the country into 5 parts, as follows ; 1. Yemen, 2. IJedsjas, 3. Oman^ 

 4. Lachsa, 5. J^edsjed. The first of these seems to correspond with Arabia Felix, the second 

 with Arabia Petraea, and the three last with Arabia Deserta. 



3. Mountains, Deserts, &c. Arabia is an arid desert, interspersed with a few fertile spots, 

 which appear like islands in a desolate ocean. Stony mountains and sandy plains form the pro- 

 minent features in the surface of this vast peninsula. To the north, it shoots out into a very 

 extensive desert, lying between Syria and the countries on the Euphrates. The whole coast 

 of Arabia, from Suez to the head of the Persian Gulf, is formed of a plain called the Tehama, 

 which presents a picture of the most complete desolation. The interior is diversified by exten- 

 sive ranges of mountains, but there is no river of any consequence in all Arabia ; almost every 

 stream either losing itself in the sandy plains, or expanding into moors and fens. 



4. Climate. In the mountainous parts, the climate is temperate ; but in the plains, intoler- 

 able heat prevails. A hot and pestiferous wind, called the simoom, frequently blows over the 

 desert, and instantly suffocates the unwary traveler ; and whole caravans are sometimes buried 

 by moving clouds of sand raised by the wind. In almost every part of the country, they suffer 

 for want of water. 



5. Soil and Productions. The soil, wherever it is well watered, exhibits an uncommon 

 fertility ; but where this is not the case, it degenerates into a waste, affording barely a seamy 

 support to a few wild animals and the camels of the wandering Arabs. The most fertile district 

 is Yemen, or Arabia Fehx, which in many parts is cultivated like a garden. Although so large 

 a part of the country is a mere desert, yet Arabia yields several of the most precious produc- 

 tions of the vegetable kingdom. The forests are mostly confined to the mountains and adjacent 

 valleys. In all Tehama, there is scarce a tree to be seen beside the palm. The coffee plant 

 is generally supposed to be a native of Arabia Felix, where it arrives at the greatest perfec- 

 tion, and whence Europe first derived its knowledge of the berry and its use. The plant grows 

 to the height of 40 or 50 feet, with a stem 4 or 5 inches in diameter, and its copious evergreen 

 foliage, white flowers, and red berries make a pleasing show. The Mocha coffee {Coffea Jlra- 

 bica), the species or variety cultivated in Arabia, is distinguished by the roundness and small- 

 ness of the grain. Balsam, frankincense, and myrrh, gum, aloes, senna, and tamarinds are also 

 staple commodities of Arabia. The balsam or balm of Gilead is the produce of two species 

 of Jlmyris {A. Gileadensis and A. Opobalsamum) , and myrrh is a gum resin which exudes 

 from a third species {Jl. Kataf). Frankincense is the produce of the oliban (Juniperus Lycia), 

 and the ancient Hebrews, as well as the modern Cathohcs, derived their incense from Arabia. 

 Gum arabic is yielded by the acacia {A. Arabica), and the Soccotrine aloes is afforded by the 



Aloe officinalis. The Arabian senna is the foliage of a species 

 of cassia (C Lanceolata), and the knowledge of its valuable 

 properties was derived from the Arabian physicians. Tamarinds 

 are the fruit of the beautiful Tamarindus officina, which is now 

 cultivated in all the warm regions of the globe. Arabia was 

 formerly thought by Europeans to yield the spikenard, cinna- 

 mon, cassia, cordamons, pepper, &c., which are now known 

 to have been Imported hither from the Indies, and thence sent 

 to Europe. Cocoa nuts, pomegranates, dates, almonds, figs, 

 oranges, lemons, peaches, and mangosteen, are also among the 

 fruits of Arabia, and in some parts wheat is raised, but the 

 dhoura (Holcus sorghmn), a coarse kind of millet, is the most 

 common bread-corn. 



6. Towns. The western part of Arabia, forming the Sherifat 

 of Mecca, belongs to Egypt ; the chief town is Mecca, cele- 

 brated as the birthplace of Mahomet, situated in a dry, barren, 

 and rocky country, 40 miles from the Red Sea. It is supported by the concourse of pilgrims 

 from every part of the Mahometan world. The chief ornament of Mecca is the famous 

 mosque, in the interior of which is the Kaaba, an ancient temple said to have been built by 

 Abraham ; it is a plain, square building of stone. The most sacred relic in the Kaaba is the 

 black stone, said to have been brought by the angel Gabriel. The grand ceremony through 

 which pilgrims pass is that of going 7 times round the Kaaba, reciting verses and psalms in 

 honor of God and the prophet, and kissing each time the sacred stone. They are then conducted 



Acacia. 



