The climate of Arabia resembles that of Africa. The mountains obstruct the mitigating influence of the sea breeze; scorching aridity and barrenness characterize both high and low grounds, and the date palm is often the only representative of vegetable existence. There are even districts which in the course of the year are refreshed by only one shower of rain, while a sky almost perpetually unclouded over spreads the sterile plains. The short rainy season, which, in consequence of the shifting winds prevailing in the Red Sea, visits the west coasts in our summer months, fills with water, but only periodically, the depressions in the surface, or wadis, and a winter marked by slight frosts occurs in the table-lands of the interior and northeast. The simoom occasion ally blows during the hot season, though only •in the northern districts.
Productions.— Arabia is destitute of large forests, and plains of green turf have their place supplied by steppe-like tracts, which, how ever, covered with aromatic herbs, afford ex cellent pasture to noble breeds of horses. The terrace portions of the country, which enjoy a more temperate climate, exhibit a greater lux uriance of vegetation. Here the date and co coanut palms and various excellent sorts of fruit flourish along with durra (a species of millet which is here generally cultivated instead of European corn), the finest coffee in the world (the staple commercial product of the country), and many aromatic plants and sub stances, such as guns-arabic, benzoin, mastic, balsam, aloes, myrrh, frankincense, etc. There are also cultivated in different parts of the peninsula, according to the nature of the soil and climate, beans, rice, lentils, tobacco, melons, saffron, colocynths, poppies, olives, the kath bush (Catha or Celastrus edulis), the leaves of which are in general use, like those of the coca in Peru, as an excitant, sesame, the castor-oil plant, etc. In its fauna also, as corresponding with the desert nature of the country, Arabia presents much of an African type. Sheep, goats and oxen supply man's immediate domes tic and personal wants; the horse and camel are his faithful attendants on his travels; asses and mules, of a stronger make and better ap pearance than those of Europe, are common in the mountainous districts; the desert is inhab ited by gazelles and ostriches hurrying rapidly from oasis to oasis; and the lion panther, hyena and jackal crouch in ambush for the passing 'prey. Monkeys, pheasants and doves are the peaceful occupants of the fertile dis tricts, in which, however, locusts frequently commit tremendous havoc. There are several
species of serpents and lizards, and scorpions and poisonous spiders are numerous. Fish and turtles abound on the coasts, and pearl oys ters in the Persian Gulf. Among mineral prod ucts may be mentioned saltpetre, mineral pitch and petroleum, which are found in the interior highlands, salt, sulphur (in Hadra maut), and several precious stones, as the car nelian, agate and onyx. Iron, copper and lead are far from abundant, and the country is also poor in the precious metals.
Population.— The population of Arabia has been estimated by some authorities at 12,000, 000, by others at no more than 4,000,000. The former number is certainly too high. Palgrave estimated that Hejaz contained about 1,000,000 inhabitants, Yemen 1,000,000, Hadramaut and Mahra 1,000,000, Oman and Hasa 2,500,000 and Nejed 2,000,000. This would make a total for Arabia of about 7,500,000, which figure is prob ably too high, but in the absence of any regular census and with our total ignorance of a large part of the interior it is impossible to verify any statement on this point. The Arabs pre sent, as a nation and as individuals, much that is peculiar both in their mental and physical development. They are of middle stature, of a powerful make and have skin of a brownish color. Their features express dignity and pride; they are naturally active, intelligent and courteous; and their character is marked by temperance, bravery and hospitality, along with a strong propensity for poetry. On the other hand, they are revengeful in their disposition and predatory in their habits. The women have the entire education of the children in their early years. The most fortunate events in the estimation of an Arab are the birth of a camel, a mare of noble breed bringing forth a foal or a triumph achieved by a poet. The first religion of the Arabs, the worship of the stars, was supplanted by the doctrines of Mohamme danism, which succeeded rapidly in establishing itself throughout Arabia. Besides the two principal sects of Islam, the Sunnites (the most numerous) and the Shiites (on the east coast), there also exists, in very considerable numbers, a third sect, the Wahabees, which arose in the latter half of the 18th century, and to which the Bedouins of Nejed belong. There are also numerous Jews, who dwell among the Ara bians and are chiefly employed in trade.