Page 364 - New Medley 5 Semester 1

Some people in the villages still enjoy the traditional lifestyle. Most of

them are nomads, who travel from one place to another in search of
water, food and shelter for their animals. They are the Bedouins. They

move in groups, forming long rows of camels, called caravans.

The Bedouins breed camels, which give them, milk, meat, skin and hair.

The Bedouins exchange their goods for dates, foodgrains and other useful
things. Now the lifestyle of Bedouins is also changing. Many of them use

jeeps and cars for moving in the desert.

The traditional dress of people in Saudi

Arabia is a long cloak worn over a smock.
The cloth on the head is held tightly with

the help of a ring made from camel hair. In
the cities, the people mostly wear western

types of clothes. Most of the people are
followers of Islam. Arabic is the national

language. English is also widely used.
Mecca
Saudi Arabia has two most important
pilgrim centres of Muslims. These are Mecca and Madina. Jeddah is

the gateway to these holy cities. Muslims from all over the world visit

these holy places at least once in their lifetime. Al Ardha (the Sword
dance) is the national dance of Saudi Arabia. Nowadays, Saudi Arabia
is considered a land of prosperity.

AT ONE GO

 Saudi Arabia occupies a major part of the Arabian peninsula in Asia.
 A major part of Saudi Arabia is a rocky plateau covered with sand.
 The hills of loose sand in the desert regions are called sand dunes.
 The climate of Saudi Arabia is hot and dry almost throughout the year.
 The plants in the desert areas have long roots and thorn type leaves.

REMEMBER THESE TERMS

Sand dune : A low hill of sand which can move with strong wind
Oasis : A place in the desert, where underground water reaches the surface
Nomads : People who move from one place to another with their cattle

Wadi : A temporary river valley which is formed after the rains in the deserts

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