Arabia. By D. G. Hogarth. (Oxford University Press. 7s. 6d.
net.)—This short sketch of Arabian history is the only existing part of a larger work, planned to deal with Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia, which Mr. Hogarth has unfortunately abandoned. We say " =fortunately " with reason, for his Arabia is a most scholarly and capable survey of a difficult subject. The history of Arabia has something of the -vagueness of the country itself, long periods are completely hidden from us, long periods are occupied with the comparatively uninteresting migrations of tribes northward from the over-populated oases of the coast- land. Only for a few years in the seventh century does Arabia emerge and influence the outer world, and that influence can be summed up in one word, " Mahomet." The greater part of her history is the influence of the outer world on Arabia. Certainly through.the accident of the Great War Arabia has lost some of her mystery and has become more familiar with Westera
peoples, but whether this seemingly spent country has a future for this reason Mr. Hogarth does not venture to say.
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