_Turkish Arabia_ Hejaz, 3,500,000 Yemen, 2,500,000 _Independent Arabia_ Oman, 1,500,000 Shammar, Bahrein, etc., 3,500,000 _________ 11,000,000 Albrecht Zehm in his book “Arabien seit hundert Jahren,” arrives at nearly the same result: Yemen and Asir, 2,252,000 Hadramaut, 1,550,000 Oman and Muscat, 1,350,000 Bahrein Katif, Nejd, 2,350,000 Hejaz, Anaeze, Kasim, and Jebel Shammar, 3,250,000 _________ 10,752,000 But undoubtedly both of these estimates, following Turkish authorities, are too high, especially for Hejaz and Yemen. A conservative estimate would be 8,000,000 for the entire peninsula in its widest extent. The true number of inhabitants will remain unknown until further explorations disclose the real character of southeastern Arabia, and until northern Hadramaut yields up its secrets. In this, as in other respects, the words of Livingstone are true: “The end of the geographical feat is the beginning of the missionary enterprise.” III THE HOLY LAND OF ARABIA—MECCA “The Eastern world moves slowly—_eppur si muove_. Half a generation ago steamers were first started to Jiddah: now we hear of a projected railway from that port to Mecca, the shareholders being all Moslems. And the example of Jerusalem encourages us to hope that long before the end of the century a visit to Mecca will not be more difficult than a trip to Hebron.”—_Burton_ (1855). “Our train of camels drew slowly by them: but when the smooth Mecca merchant heard that the stranger riding with the camel men was a Nasrany, he cried ‘Akhs! A Nasrany in these parts!’ and with the horrid inurbanity of their jealous religion he added, ‘Ullah curse his father!’ and stared on me with a face worthy of the Koran.”—_Doughty_ (1888)