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)

9781108022903, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 25 November 2010

402 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.7 cm, 0.74 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 politics of the region. Volume 2 contains his history of the Wahhabi sect.

1. Additions to the classification of Bedouin tribes
2. Horses of Arabia
3. Camels
4. Locusts
Materials for a History of the Wahabys: 1. Introduction
2. Of Saoud's person and family
3. Wahaby government
4. Administration of justice
5. Revenues
6. Military affairs of the Wahabys
7. Ghaleb, Sherif of Mekka, and the Turkish Pasha of Baghdad, at war with the Wahabys
8. Mohammed Aly, Pasha of Cairo, despatches his son, Tousoun Pasha, with a Turkish army to invade Arabia
9. Mohammey Aly Pasha proceeds from Egypt with an army of Turks
10. The Begoum Arabs headed by a woman, regarded as a sorceress by the Turks, who are defeated at Taraba
11. Distribution of the Turkish forces in Hedjaz
12. Turks elated with victory
13. Abdallah Ibn Saoud enters Kasym with an army
Appendix
Index of Arabic words.

Subject Areas: Middle Eastern history [HBJF1]