ABSTRACT
THE story I have told in Arabia a"d the Isles was largely based on l1ly gradual approach, through Zanzibar and Mauritius to South-west Arabia, and in particular, the Hadhralnaut. Since I lcft the Hadhranlaut in 1944, I have continued to follow its fortuncs with the closcst interest. I have probably been luckier than nlost in the variety of experience I have had in different lands; I have liked all of thcnl, found Inany friends in theln and done l1ly best to servc thcln £lithfully; but I do not think Illy affection for the Southern Arabs, whether in Zanzibar, al-Yel1len or the Hadhralllaut, has ever been superseded. Experience of a wide variety of other peoples has nlade tne see with greater clarity how uniquc a people the Arabs are and perhaps to understand their problenls better.
