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but neither peacocks nor parrots exist there. Of the reptiles, the snakes are mostly innocent; but the scorpions of Peshawer are notorious for their size and venom. There are no crocodiles; but tortoises are

common.

What is the character of the province of Beloochistan? It consists of a vast extent of rugged and rocky mountains, seared by narrow vallies or gullies, in which the way frequently leads, and serve for resting places; but down which the water sometimes rushes so suddenly as to overwhelm those who seek such shelter,-an accident under which Arian reports the army of Alexander to have severely suffered.

Name the province at the south-eastern corner of Beloochistan?

Leia, the seat of the ancient Oritæ, watered by the Pooralee, and containing Bayla, a town of 2000 houses, and Somneany, an inconsiderable fishing town.

What is the name and character of the inhabitants? Those inhabiting the upper tracts of this province, are called Bezunjas, who are said to be pre-eminent in their rapacious habits, even above the other Belooches, "who care not for King, khan, God, or the Prophet; but murder, or plunder every person or thing they can lay their hands on."

CHAPTER XXXIX.

ARABIA.

Describe the boundaries of Arabia.

It is bounded on the north by part of Syria, and the Euphrates; on the east by the Chaldean mountains, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Ormus; on the south, by the Indian Ocean, and the Straits of Babel-mandel; and on the west, by the Red Sea, the isthmus of Suez, and part of Syria.

What is the extent?

From north to south the length is 22° or somewhat more than 1500 miles. The greatest breadth across from Mecca, is not less than 20 or 1200 miles, form

ing an irregular triangle, the area of which has been computed at 1,005,727 square miles. With these dimensions, and under such a climate, and in a position so central, Arabia would have been the finest country of Asia, had it possessed one essential element, that of water deprived of this, it has, for the most part, ever borne the character of desert, for which its very name has become proverbial. There are, however, some brilliant exceptions, particularly the country of Yemen, which has been called the Happy Arabia; but, in general, over all the vast expanse, naked rocks, and arid sands predominate.

What is the chief physical cause of this deficiency? It is incident to all countries under the torrid zone, in which moisture is not collected by great ranges of mountains. Lofty chains like those of Ararat and Imaus, seem necessary to pour down those mighty streams that fertilize the burning plains of Asia.

What is the most elevated portion of Arabia?

Sinai and Horeb, towering over the head of the Red Sea, and rendered famous by great events, form, probably the most elevated portion. In all Arabia, scarcely a river can be said to exist. Torrents alone are seen dashing down from the rocks, and after diffusing verdure over vallies of small extent, are absorbed in the sand. They never seem so copious as to form anything that can properly be called a lake. In the plain of Damar, the fields are watered out of deep draw-wells. What are the most valuable plants peculiar to the country?

Coffee, probably a native of Arabia Felix, there arrives at the greatest perfection. The plant grows to a height of forty or fifty feet, with a stem four or five inches in diameter. The Mocha Coffee is distinguished from the coffee of other countries by the roundness and smallness of the grain, the reason for which, is, that one out of the two seeds in the berry, is abortive, and the other assumes a rounded form, for want of the mutual pressure that would otherwise have been given.

The superior quality depends partly on the time and manner of gathering the Mocha coffee, and still more,

perhaps, on the soil and site chosen for the cultivation of the plants. The best sort is grown on the mountains of Hadje, about sixteen miles east of Beit-el-fakieh. All the gardens there are situated on platforms one above the other: some are only watered by rain, in others, there are large reservoirs on the higher parts, whence the running water is conducted and distributed over all the beds, where the trees are generally grown so close together, that the sun cannot make its way between them. Balsam, frankincense, and myrrh, gum, aloes, senna, and tamarinds, are other staple commodities of Arabia, that have given the country a name and a rank among commercial nations. The fruits of temperate and warmer climates are equally grown in Arabia. Gourds and melons, cocoa-nuts, pomegranates, tamarinds, dates, apricots, peaches, almonds, filberts, pears, quinces, figs, oranges and lemons, and even the mangosteen. The Arabians raise also a great quantity of "dhurra,” a sort of coarse millet, which is extremely fructiferous, and forms their chief article of food.

What animals are known in Arabia?

Arabia, in common with the whole extent of Northern Africa, Persia, and Western India, possessess the camel, the wild ass, and the dromedary, to which travellers also add lynxes, jackals, hyænas, monkeys, jerboas, and various panthers. The Arabian horses are known to be the finest in the world. The wandering Arab of the desert places his highest felicity in his horses, and is so attached to them, that they are more his companions than his servants. This extraordinary domesticity gives the horses of the desert a tractableand docility which no other breed possesses. Whenever they feel the touch of the hand or the heel, they dart away with the velocity of the wind: if their rider be dismounted in his career, they instantly stop till he recovers his seat, or if he fall in battle, they remain by his side, and neigh over him. It is by these tribes, that nearly all the horses are bred; and they are known under two denominations.-Kadeschi are horses of an unknown race, and Kochlani, those whose genealogy is known for 2000 years; this race, they

ness

assert, originated from the stalls of Solomon. The horses of this noble race are sold at enormous prices, but no consideration whatever will induce the Arabs to part with the mares. An Arabian will generally carry his master from eighteen to twenty leagues in the day. They perspire little, and possess in the most eminent degree the qualities of endurance, vigour, and admirable temper.

There is a race of oxen in Arabia, with a hump on the back, like those of Syria. The rock-goats inhabit the hills of Arabia Petræa, and the plains are stocked with gazelles; antelopes inhabit the deserts.

The camel is the most serviceable animal of Arabia. It has well been called the ship of the desert, for without it the Arab could not cross the seas of sand, with which his country is covered. Its hoof is formed to tread on burning sands; it is patient of thirst, and the cartilaginous texture of its mouth enables it to feed upon the hard and prickly plants of the desert. Its milk is copious, and the flesh of its young, tender. Its dung supplies the deficiency of fuel, and its hair is manufactured into garments. Four complete days, form the general extent to which Arabian camels can endure the want of water during summer. The Darfur camels bear thirst much longer, often to the extent of nine or ten days. The Arabians possess a breed of asses, which in beauty, vigour, and spirit, rival even the horse. The Moslems use them in their long and painful journeys to Mekka; and in Yemen the soldiers perform their patroles upon them. They are more patient of fatigue, and more easily foraged, than the horse, and therefore better fitted for travelling. Mules are not much bred in Arabia.

Of birds, the Arabs have poultry in abundance: guinea-fowl are common in the hilly parts, and pigeons in the woody districts. The red-legged partridge, pheasants and bustards, plovers, storks, &c., are also found in places adapted to their habits. Ostriches, called by the inhabitants, the camel-bird, are to be found in the desert. A beautiful lap-wing, called hudhud, is also common on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Eagles,

falcons, sparrow-hawks, and the Egyptian vulture, are to be met with in Arabia. The last of these is very serviceable in destroying corrupt carcases, which are very noisome in hot countries, and field mice which multiply prodigiously in some of the provinces. Another bird, not less serviceable to the inhabitants, is the samarmar or samarmog, a species of thrush, which annually visits Arabia from Eastern Persia in pursuit of the locust, and destroys immense numbers of this formidable enemy to vegetation. The ashjal is highly valued for two beautiful feathers in its tail, to preserve which uninjured, it is said to leave a hole in its nest :and the thaerel hind, is also valued for its golden plumage. Sea-fowl abound on the coasts of the Red Sea. What fish are found on the coasts?

Fish are abundant.-The south-east coast producing the shell called pinna marina, with its shining byssus, and numbers of sea-turtle. Land-turtle is common, and forms the chief food of the Christians during Lent. The flying-fish is found in the Red Sea, together with a variety of undescribed species, including a peculiar genus of torpedo. Pearl fishing is still carried on in the Persian Gulf, off the coast of Bakrein. Serpents are numerous;-the most dangerous is the bactan, a small creature, spotted black and white, whose bite is instantly fatal. Many, however, are harmless. There is a species called the flying serpent, which, by the elasticity of its tail, can spring to a considerable distance. The Arabs use a decoction of the herb aristolochia semper virens against the poison of serpents. Of the various sorts of lizard, the guaril is said to equal the crocodile in strength, and the species called jekko by the Egyptians, is dangerous from the venomous properties of its saliva. The arda, a species of ant,-the scolopendra, and the tenebris, are among the insect tormentors of Arabia. The muken or red locust, is eaten generally by the inhabitants.

What are the mineral productions of Arabia?

Although not now productive, there is no reason for doubting the truth of ancient accounts. It was in the mountains of Yemen that gold mines were formerly

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