Notes on the Bedouins and Wahabys
Collected During His Travels in the East

A detailed description of Bedouin society with a history of the Wahhabi sect of Islam, first published in 1830.

John Lewis Burckhardt (Author), William Ouseley (Edited by)

9781108022897, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 25 November 2010

402 pages, 1 map
21.6 x 14 x 2.3 cm, 0.51 kg

John Lewis Burckhardt (1784–1817) was a Swiss explorer who is best remembered for his rediscovery of the ancient city of Petra, in Jordan. In 1809 he was commissioned by the African Association to discover the source of the River Niger. In preparation for this journey, for which he needed to pass as a Muslim, Burckhardt spent two years exploring and studying Arabic in Aleppo, before travelling widely in Arabia and Egypt. These volumes, first published in 1830, contain Burckhardt's description of Bedouin society and his history of the Wahhabi sect of Islam. He describes the different Bedouin tribes of Arabia and the Middle East and their political allegiances, and recounts in fascinating detail aspects of their society. He also narrates the history of the Wahhabi sect from its founding, and discusses its effect on the contemporary politics of the region. Volume 1 contains his description of the Bedouin.

Account of the Bedouin Tribes: 1. Classification of Bedouin tribes that inhabit the Syrian desert
2. Sketches
3. The tent, and its different parts
4. Furniture of the tent, and various utensils
5. Bedouin dress
6. Arms of the Bedouin
7. Diet of the Arabs
8. Arts and industry
9. Wealth and property of the Bedouins
10. Sciences, music, and poetry of the Bedouins
11. Feasts and rejoicings
12. Diseases and cures
13. Education
14. Religious worship
15. Matrimony and divorce
16. Government and mode of judicature
17. Warfare and predatory excursions
18. Blood-revenge, or Thár
19. Robbery and theft
20. Hospitality of the Arabs
21. Slaves and servants
22. Moral character of the Bedouins
23. Cattle of the Bedouins, and other animals of the desert
24. Vegetation of the desert
25. Winds
26. Additional observations
27. Dress of the Bedouins
28. Arms
29. Food and cookery
30. Industry
31. The Arabs' wealth
32. Sciences, music, poetry, &c.
33. The camel-driver's song
34. Feasts and rejoicings
35. Diseases
36. Vaccination
37. Customs relative to matrimony
38. Divorces of the Bedouins
39. Burial of the Bedouins
40. Religious worship
41. Government
42. Warfare of the Bedouins
43. Blood-revenge
44. Robbery and thieving
45. The traitor
46. Dakheil, or protection
47. Hospitality
48. Domestic relations
49. General character of the Bedouins
50. Salutation
51. Language
52. Sagacity in tracing of footsteps, or Athr
53. General reflections.

Subject Areas: Middle Eastern history [HBJF1]