“To sum up, we may say that the Wahabee empire is a compact and well-organized government, where centralization is fully understood and effectually carried out, and whose main-springs and connecting links are force and fanaticism. There exist no constitutional checks either on the king or on his subordinates, save what the necessity of circumstance imposes or the Koran prescribes. Its atmosphere, to speak metaphorically, is sheer despotism—moral, intellectual, religious, and physical. This empire is capable of frontier extension, and hence is dangerous to its neighbors, some of whom it is even now swallowing up, and will certainly swallow more if not otherwise prevented. Incapable of true internal progress, hostile to commerce, unfavorable to arts and even to agriculture, and in the highest degree intolerant and aggressive, it can neither better itself nor benefit others; while the order and calm which it sometimes spreads over the lands of its conquest are described in the oft-cited _Ubi solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant_ of the Roman annalist. “In conclusion, I here subjoin a numerical list, taken partly from the government registers of Ri’ad, partly from local information, and containing the provinces, the number of the principal towns or villages, the population, and the military contingent, throughout the Wahabee empire.” Provinces Towns or Population Military Villages muster I. ’Aared 15 110,000 6,000 II. Yemamah 32 140,000 4,500 III. Hareek 16 45,000 3,000 IV. Aflaj 12 14,000 1,200 V. Wady Dowasir 50 100,000 4,000 VI. Seley’yel 14 30,000 1,400 VII. Woshem 20 80,000 4,000 VIII. Sedeyr 25 140,000 5,200 IX. Kaseem 60 300,000 11,000 X. Hasa 50 160,000 7,000 XI. Kateef 22 100,000 — 316 1,219,000 47,300 After a time, Palgrave was sent for by Abdallah, the eldest son of King Feysul, who pretended that he wished to learn something of the medical art. This led to a regular intercourse, which at least enabled the traveller to learn many things concerning the Wahabee government. Another important result was an opportunity of visiting the royal stables, where the finest specimens of the famous Nedjed breed of horses are kept. Of these he gives the following interesting description: