Arabian Sands

Wilfred Thesiger

2 ideas

1. Thesiger's first crossing of the Empty Quarter

   In 1946–47, nominally gathering locust information, Thesiger crossed the eastern Rub' al Khali from Mughshin with a small party that included the Rashid Salim bin Kabina and the guide al Auf alongside two Bait Kathir men. On meagre rations of flour and little water they crossed the great dunes of the Uruq al Shaiba and reached Khaba well near the Liwa oases. The crossing depended on al Auf's knowledge of the sands to find their way and locate wells.

2. Harsh conditions forge rather than degrade character

   Thesiger argues that the Bedu's extreme scarcity produced, not coarseness, but exceptional generosity, loyalty, courage and self-restraint, because in the desert these virtues are the price of survival. The harder the life, the finer the people it shapes. Comfort removes that pressure, so material progress can leave people richer but diminished.

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