THE ARABIANS.
Origin, etc.—They, like the people of the neighboring countries, sprang from the Semitic stock; and though they branched off more widely from the parent stem, yet, never having been subjugated by other races or intermixed with them, they preserved more faithfully its peculiar cha racteristics. Their traditions, transmitted orally for centuries, ascribe their origin to the patriarchs of the Old Testament. The sterile character of their country confined them to a nomadic life, such as they still lead, in connection, doubtless, from the earliest times with plundering excur sions and attacks. Only the southern belt of the country was adapted to permanent settlements.' In that region the kingdom of the Sabeans was established, and, being favorably situated for maintaining communication between other countries, extensive and civilized, it attained by means of traffic both wealth and importance.
Dress, etc.—Both Egyptian and Persian monuments impart informa tion relative to the most ancient dress of the Arabians, and its continuous use appears from the mention of it in writings anterior and subsequent to the birth of Christ. We recognize the original of the modern dress in the simple apparel described, which consisted of a covering for the loins, an upper garment, and a turban-shaped hood (p1. TS, figs. 1-3). We have no definite knowledge of the female attire. We may readily sup pose that the tents of these wandering tribes were not formerly more elaborate than at present. The precious articles that were to be seen in the trading cities of the South were contributions from foreign merchants rather than products of native industry.
Place in Historv.—The important place which after the lapse of cen turies the Arabians occupied in history was due to the wild, untamed spirit of the race, which, concentrated in the mind and character of a single man (Mohammed), and nourished by elements of foreign civiliza tion, gave a meaning to empty forms and a new impulse to stagnant currents.
Peofiles.—Egyptian monuments as old as the second mil lennium before our era give us information regarding the inhabitants of Syria as far as to the eastern provinces of Asia Minor. They furnish a list of names for the most part unintelligible to us, which we the more readily omit as they chiefly belonged to peoples who were not organized into states, and who rather shared in the existing civilization than aided its further development. Among them we notice the Retennit (p.
figs. 6, 7), who are distinguished by their magnificent attire and by the costly articles of tribute which they bring. They are thought to have been identical with the later Cappadocians, both because they are repre sented as dwelling in the vicinity of the Great Sea and because their full dress would indicate a northern abode. Their national development can be inferred from the splendid war-chariots and the golden vessels which they bring as tribute. Toward the other side, southward along the Medi terranean Sea, the warlike Philistines (fig. 9) played an important part. But only two of the peoples in this region, the Phoenicians and the Hebrews, had a decided influence on the later civilization of mankind.