'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎559] (650/905)

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CHAPTER XXII.
arabia.
Situation, Extent, &c.—Mountains of Arabia.—Persian and Arabian Gulfs.—
Winds, Commerce, &c.—Lakes and Rivers.—Mirage.—General Surface :
Plateau, and Deserts of Arabia.—Temperature.—Rain.—Desert Winds.—
Loss of Caravans.'—Animal and Vegetable Productions.—Manufactures.—
Imports and Exports.
Geographically, the preceding territory forms a portion of arabia con-
that which is about to be described, since by its south-eastern sydfand 1 *
prolongation, the plateau of Syria forms the peninsula of Africa -
Arabia, which ever has been one of the most interesting
countries in the world. The physical structure of this exten
sive region seems to belong to Africa, rather than Asia;
whilst the almost uniform surface of its vast wilderness, like
a great sea, at once separates and connects both continents.
Arabia forms an irregular quadrangle, containing upwards its extent and
of 22 degrees of latitude, from Thapsacus to Bab-el-Mandeb, and boundane8 -
26 of longitude, from Akabah to Ras el Hadd; the former
being a distance of 1415, and the latter 1540 geographical
miles; or, according to the Arabs, it is a journey of 100 days
in a north-westerly direction, viz., from Aden to the borders
of Syria. 1 Arabia is bounded on the west by the Red Sea, on
the south and south-east by the Indian Ocean, on the east by
the Gulf of Persia, on the north by the Upper Euphrates, Syria,
&c.; and it covers an area of more than 1,100,000 square
geographical miles: thus it rather exceeds the magnitude of
India within the Ganges, and consequently it is the greatest
peninsula in the world. The ancients were well acquainted
1 Arabic MS. in the British Museum, p. 1502; translated by Dr. A.
Sprenger.