ABSTRACT

H.R.P. Dickson had the good fortune to spend many years among the Badawin, living and travelling with them as one of them in their own tents. In this book, first published in 1949, the author uses his great experience and knowledge to reveal all aspects of the lives of the nomadic desert Arabs, from social systems to marriage and children, from faith to food, sandstorms, warfare and hunting. The Arab of the Desert is truly a wealth of information, informed by personal insight and anecdotes.

part |162 pages

Part One

chapter Chapter I|6 pages

My Life in the Desert

chapter Chapter II|12 pages

Autumn Stirrings

chapter Chapter III|21 pages

Nomad Life

chapter Chapter IV|18 pages

The Tent and its Furnishings

chapter Chapter V|24 pages

Tent Treasures

chapter Chapter VI|10 pages

Badawin Social System

chapter Chapter VII|22 pages

Arab Honour

chapter Chapter VIII|14 pages

Marriage and Divorce

chapter Chapter IX|18 pages

Women's Secrets

chapter Chapter X|9 pages

Children

chapter Chapter XI|6 pages

Faith and Prayer

part |374 pages

Part Two

chapter Chapter XII|13 pages

Food and Hospitality

chapter Chapter XIII|5 pages

Morality

chapter Chapter XIV|9 pages

Death, Burial and the Hereafter

chapter Chapter XV|2 pages

Smoking

chapter Chapter XVI|14 pages

The 'Id Festivals

chapter Chapter XVII|4 pages

Arab Greetings

chapter Chapter XVIII|8 pages

The Haj, or Pilgrimage to Mecca

chapter Chapter XIX|3 pages

Prostitution

chapter Chapter XX|11 pages

Seasons and Winds in Kuwait

chapter Chapter XXI|5 pages

Sandstorms

chapter Chapter XXII|38 pages

'Ajman Talks and Tales

chapter Chapter XXIII|28 pages

Story Telling

chapter Chapter XXIV|7 pages

Dreams and their Interpretation

chapter Chapter XXV|5 pages

Some Proverbs and Sayings

chapter Chapter XXVI|21 pages

Badawin Warfare

chapter Chapter XXVII|4 pages

Desert Guides and Trackers

chapter Chapter XXVIII|8 pages

Hawking

chapter Chapter XXIX|5 pages

The Salúqi

chapter Chapter XXX|20 pages

The Arab Horse

chapter Chapter XXXI|10 pages

Sheep and Goats

chapter Chapter XXXII|22 pages

The Camel

chapter Chapter XXXIII|16 pages

Camel Disputes

chapter Chapter XXXIV|8 pages

Locusts

chapter Chapter XXXV|10 pages

Wild Birds

chapter Chapter XXXVI|8 pages

Wild Animals

chapter Chapter XXXVII|11 pages

Boat Building

chapter Chapter XXXVIII|13 pages

Pearl Diving

chapter Chapter XXXIX|8 pages

Slavery

chapter Chapter XL|10 pages

Sickness and Disease

chapter Chapter XLI|11 pages

The Sulubba

chapter Chapter XLII|8 pages

Crime

chapter Chapter XLIII|6 pages

The Supernatural

chapter Chapter XLIV|5 pages

Curious Customs and Stories

chapter Chapter XLV|16 pages

The Muntafiq Shepherd Tribes