The old home of the Arabs was Arabia; to-day they are found not only in Arabia, but over half of Asia and all of Northern Africa. Their great wanderings began with the founding of Mohammedanism about the year 622 A.D. Full of zeal, the Arabs carried the new religion in every direction. The Arab is a white man, but a dark one. His language belongs to the Semitic family and resembles the old Hebrew language. Arabic is a soft and poetical language which is spoken to-day by myriads of people who are not Arabs by blood. The Arab is of moderate stature; he is thin but muscular, and has great endurance; he has a long head and a narrow, oval face; his nose is long, thin, and prominent; his hair and eyes are black. We always think of the Arab as dwelling in tents. This is only partly true. In Arabia itself about one-fourth of the Arabs are wandering tent-dwellers; in Northern Africa, especially near the great desert, many are nomadic. But everywhere we also find settled, town-inhabiting Arabs also. The tents of the desert Arabs are large, low, and flat; the covering is a firm wool and camel’s-hair cloth. During the daytime, at least, the sides are raised to permit the air to circulate. These tents are easily taken down and packed, and as easily set up. Desert Arabs have flocks of sheep and herds of goats, camels, and horses. Every one has heard of the beauty, gentleness, and spirit of the Arabian horses—the finest perhaps in the world. Their owners love them and treat them as tenderly as children. Horses are rarely used by Arabs as draught animals or burden bearers, but only for riding. The camel it is upon which the Arab packs his heavy burdens for desert travel. The nomad Arab lives chiefly on food drawn from his flocks and herds. Mutton is his most important meat; couscous is a favorite food (see Kabyles). The nomad Arabs are pillagers, and fall upon caravans of traders to rob them. Still they are hospitable to the stranger who comes to their tent asking shelter; in fact, they treat him with the greatest politeness. A table is set before him; he is given water to wash his hands; the master himself receives the food from the servants and places it before his guest. The Arabs admire strength and agility, and at evening, before their tents, the young men of the encampment practise tumbling, wrestling, hurling, and other feats of strength. [Illustration: CAMEL AND PALANQUIN (FROM A PHOTOGRAPH).]