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Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s
Spouse
subject to a penalty, irrespective of the fact that one does
pay the price of the water recorded by the water meter.
Citizens are certain that using water excessively for other
than what is necessary is an immoral act and consider
cautioning against it a correct moral duty. There is another
interesting detail connected with the use of water. Many
who own private property have pipes extended outside the
walls of their property that end in a tap so that any passer-
by may drink therefrom or may perform ablution for the
daily prayers.
For people who live in the rural areas of the kingdom,
water has always been a dire necessity. Hence, during
the winter-spring period, when the winds coming from
the Indian Ocean do not bring the hoped for rain, people
in the mosques pray the «Istisqaa» prayer, which is
characterized by special rites. Plants in the kingdom are
very rare, which is attributed primarily to the absence of
the necessary quantity of water, to the rare or irregularity
of rain, to the types of sandy and stony soil that is not
suitable for agriculture, and to the high temperature that
is unbearable, at least during five months every year.
Exceptionally, there are a few oases and green plots on
the slopes of mountains and high land.
Most of the trees in the Peninsula that go back to a
very old period in history are palm trees. That is why
they are spread throughout Mesopotamia, Egypt, and
other countries, and have become greatly respected in the
Middle East region. A poet once said: «We have visited
the noblest of trees - the palm trees.» This is not strange,
for, before the discovery, extraction and export of oil, the
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Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s Spouse
palm tree was, just like the camel, almost the main food
for the local inhabitants. The fruit of the palm trees is rich
in nutritional materials, vitamins, and other elements that
are used on a large scale in food industries. The stones of
the date fruit are used in the pharmaceutical industry and
in the preparation of the various types of food and even
in coffee beverages. Old people know many recipes that
contain date ingredients for the treatment of eye, kidney,
stomach and other ailments. It has been said that thanks to
this fruit, Saudis have an unusually strong memory.
Since time immemorial, local people have been in the
habit of covering the roofs of their homes and summer
and rural cottages with the branches of date trees. Such
branches are also used in the manufacture of the traditional
rugs, baskets and bags that are used to carry things along
the sides and backs of riding animals. From the trunks
of palm trees, craftsmen make various kitchen tools and
pieces of furniture. Being an integral part of the basic
symbols of the country, following the promulgation of
the decree establishing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on
September 18, 1932, the palm tree became an integral part
of the country,s flag. Moreover, during recent celebrations,
the dearly cherished tree was not neglected and was given
all attention and care. The date trees that stood proudly in
the streets were decorated with the wires of colored electric
lamps and were lighted by flash lights from the walls of
neighboring houses. The symbol of this occasion was the
famous Mismak Citadel that had been captured by King
Abdulaziz, under the artistically painted palm tree. This
tree is extremely beautiful and graceful. It rises as high as