The camel may be called the national animal of Arabia, for no other can endure long journeys across the scorching sands of the desert, where neither food nor water are to be found. Because so admirably adapted to journeys across these great seas of sand, the camel is called the "ship of the desert."

The strong and patient camel is possessed of great powers of endurance. In crossing the desert, the lack of water is more to be dreaded than the want of food. It is possible to carry a supply of food and, even in the sand desert, coarse grass and shrubs are frequently to be found. But for many weary miles no sign of water is to be seen. The stomach of the camel is, by a wise provision of nature, formed with pouches in which a quantity of water can be stored. Thus supplied with water, the camel is able to travel from six to ten days under the heat of the tropical sun, and can traverse the long caravan routes with no other food than a small quantity of grain and a few dates each day. When approaching an oasis on the desert, the camel rushes forward at great speed and drinks long and deep at the welcome pool.

The Arab uses the flesh and the milk of camels for food, and weaves their hair into cloth for clothing and tents, and also into rugs and shawls.

The camel shows no trait of affection for his master, but, on the contrary, is sometimes very vicious. "When you bid a camel to get up, he objects; when you order him to start, he objects; and when you order him to halt, he objects, showing that he really objects on principle."

Although of greater use, the camel is, in the estimation of the Arab, inferior to the horse. The horse attains his highest perfection in Arabia. For a long time, in fact for many, many generations, the horse has been made a friend and companion by his master. To the Arab his horse, living in the tent with him, fed by his own hand with dates and camel's milk, and petted by his children, — is a treasure beyond all price. The intelligence of the Arabian horse and his affection for his master are wonderful, and it is not surprising that the Arab loves him and values him so far above the plodding camel.

Many stories are told illustrative of the love of Arabs for their horses; and many are the proverbs in which the glory of their horses is celebrated. One of these proverbs has been handed down from generation to generation: "Love thy horses-take care of them spare thyself no trouble; by them comes honor, and by them is obtained beauty."

An old Arab sheik once told this story of the affection of the horse for his master:

"An Arab chief and his tribe had attacked a caravan of Damascus in the desert. The Arabs were conquered in the fight, some were killed, and the rest were made prisoners. The chief was severely wounded, and was stretched upon the ground near the tent in which his captors were sleeping. During the night he heard his horse neighing among the other steeds. Unable to resist the desire of speaking once more to the companion of his life on the desert, he painfully dragged himself along the ground and succeeded in reaching his beloved horse.

"Poor friend,' said he, what will become of thee among the Turks? Thou wilt be imprisoned among the horses of a pasha; no more will the women and the children carry thee camel's milk, and grains of barley in the palms of their hands; no more wilt thou gallop in the desert like the wind; at least, though I am become a slave, be thou free as air; there, go! return to the tent thou knowest; go tell my wife that I will behold her no more; and pass thy head between the curtains of the tent to lick the hands of my little ones.'

"Thus saying, the chief gnawed with his teeth the cord of goat's hair with which the Arabs fetter their horses. The animal was free! But, seeing his wounded master at his feet, the intelligent and faithful creature bowed down his head, and seizing the chief by the leather belt about his waist, set off on the full gallop and carried him even to his tents. Having laid his master at the feet of his wife and children, the noble horse soon expired from fatigue.

"All the tribe wept over him; the poets sang his praises; and his name is honored among the Arabs.”

Wandering over the desert with their flocks; living in tents made of camel's hair; carrying water, on their journeys, in leather skins instead of in jars, — in these and in many other ways the life of the Arabs of the desert is the same to-day as it has been for ages past. From the far distant past there comes to us this record: "Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the East. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three

flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place." (Genesis xxix. 1-3.)

The scene described in these words is to be seen to this day upon the plains of Arabia. In some other respects, however, the Arabs are a very different people to-day from those ancient tribes of the deserts.

The people of Arabia have always been divided into two great classes, the town people and the people who live in tents. The town people have been devoted to trade and commerce. The tent people, moving their black tents from place to place, where they find grass and water for their cattle, tend their flocks and herds and make war upon their neighboring tribes. These desert tribes are the famous Bedouins, who occupy so important a place in the history of Arabia.

They live chiefly upon the milk and the flesh of camels, a diet which is said by the Arabs to make them. fierce and cruel. The dress of the Bedouins is of a

picturesque character. The principal garment is a long, loose tunic, reaching to the ankles, and fastened by a girdle or belt; over this a cloak is worn, and it is usually made in broad white and brown stripes. A headdress of silk, with a deep fringe, is folded like a shawl, and so placed on the head that it can be pulled over the forehead to protect the face from the wind and dust.

The long lance is the weapon most commonly carried