ABSTRACT
THOSElines,writtenbyArthurJ.BullinapoemcalledMapofthe World,werechosentoprefacethischapterbecausetomymind theycrystallizetheromantic,sometimespatheticyearningwhich manypeoplefeelfordistantlands.Ofallcountries,itmightbe said,Arabiaholdsthedeepestenchantmentforthemajority. FromthetimeoftheRomans,whosoughtforthemysteriousland ofOphir,reputedbylegendtobeastrongholdofgold,rarespices andpearls,tothenineteenthcentury,whenitsaridhillsandwaterlessdunesattractedsuchmenasSirRichardBurton,Charles DoughtyandtheSwiss,Burchardt,ArabiaFelixanditsbordering kingdomshavecapturedtheimaginationoftravellers,explorersand writers.Nolesshasitsappeal,theappealoftheunknown,proved aluretoavastlegionofreaders.
