Boundaries—Population—Government—Muscat—Heat—The forts—The town—The gardens—Trade—The coast of Oman—The pirate-coast—The Batina—Sib, Barka, Sohar—From Muscat to Ras-el-Had—Sur—Carter’s exploration—The Mahrah and Gharah tribes—Frankincense. IX THE LAND OF THE CAMEL 88 “The mother of the camel”—Importance of the camel to Arabia—Tradition as to creation—Species—The dromedary—An illustration of design—Products of the camel—Characteristics—The interior of Oman—Chief authorities—Fertility—Caravan-routes—Peter Zwemer’s journey—Jebel Achdar. X THE PEARL ISLANDS OF THE GULF 97 Ancient history of Bahrein—Origin of name—Population—Menamah—The fresh-water springs—The pearl-fisheries—Superstitions about pearls—Value and export—Method of diving—Boats—Apparatus—Dangers to the divers—Mother-of-pearl—Other manufactures—Ruins at Ali—The climate—Political history—English protection. XI THE EASTERN THRESHOLD OF ARABIA 110 The province of Hassa—Katar—The Route inland—Ojeir—Journey to Hofhoof—The two curses of agriculture—The capital of Hassa—Plan of the town—Its manufactures—Curious coinage—The government of Hassa—Katif—Its unhealthfulness. XII THE RIVER-COUNTRY AND THE DATE-PALM 119 The cradle of the race—Boundaries of Mesopotamia—The Tigris-Euphrates—Meadow lands—The palms—Their beauty—Fruitfulness—Usefulness—Varieties of dates—Value—Other products—Population—Provinces and districts—The government. XIII THE CITIES AND VILLAGES OF TURKISH-ARABIA 128 Kuweit—Fao—Aboo Hassib—Busrah—The river navigation—A journey—Kurna—Ezra’s tomb—Amara—The tomb of the barber—The arch of Ctesiphon—Bagdad, past and present—Population—Trade—Kelleks. XIV A JOURNEY DOWN THE EUPHRATES 136 Journey to Hillah—-The route—Kerbela—Down the Euphrates—Diwaniyeh—The soldier-guard—Amphibious Arabs—Samawa—Ya Ali, Ya Hassan!—Nasariya—Ur—The end of our journey—The future of Mesopotamia. XV THE INTERIOR—KNOWN AND UNKNOWN 143 What it includes—Its four divisions—(1) “The empty quarter”—Ignorance of this part of Arabia—(2) Nejran—The Dauasir-valley and other wadys—Halévy’s travels—Aflaj—The Roman expedition to Nejran—(3) Nejd—Its proper limits—The zephyrs of Nejd—Soil—Vegetation—Animals—The ostrich—The horse—The chief authorities on this part of Arabia—The population of Nejd—The character of government—Intercourse with Mesopotamia—Chief cities—Hail—Riad—(4) Jebel Shammar—The Bedouin-tribes—Division—Character and customs—Robbery—Universal poverty. XVI “THE TIME OF IGNORANCE” 158