Thesiger's Journeys in Arabia - United Arab Emirates and Oman Spring 1948

2004_130_17632_1-OJourney dates: March 14 – May 18, 1948

After three months of constant travel, Wilfred Thesiger and his Rashid Bedouin companions arrived exhausted and hungry in the city of Abu Dhabi on March 14, 1948. Greeted at Al Qasr Fort by Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, then ruler of Abu Dhabi, and his brothers Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Hazaa bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Thesiger and his companions were welcomed into the city and treated with generous hospitality. As guests of the Al Nahyan family, Thesiger and his Rashid Bedouin companions spent two weeks sailing dhows through the Abu Dhabi Islands with Sheikh Hazaa and Sheikh Khalid, before continuing on to Al Ain in April.

In Al Ain Thesiger and his companions stayed at Al Muwaiji Fort with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, younger brother of Sheikh Shakhbut and his representative in Al Ain. Although still quite young, Sheikh Zayed was well known and respected in the region. Thesiger found him to be an interesting, intelligent and hospitable host, whose love for hunting matched his own. During their stay at Al Muwaiji Fort, Sheikh Zayed took Wilfred Thesiger and his companions on a series of falcon hunting expeditions through the nearby Al Khatam sands, and arranged local guides so Thesiger and his men could hunt Arabian Tahr (Hemitragus jayakari) on nearby Jabal Hafeet.

After a nearly a month of exploring in the interior, Sheikh Zayed arranged for a few of his retainers to accompany Thesiger and his Rashid Bedouin companions back to the coast via Ramlat Unayq and Jabal Sumeini. They arrived in Sharjah on May 10, 1948, where Thesiger parted from his companions. Leaving Sharjah, Thesiger visited friends in the city of Dubai and later travelled on to Bahrain by dhow.

Locations: Abu Dhabi City, Abu Dhabi Islands, Al Ain City, Al Muwaiji, Al Jahili, Al Khandaq, Al Buraimi, Jabal Hafit [Jebel Hafeet], Ramlat Unayq, Jabal Sumeini, Sharjah, Dubai.

Named Individuals: 'Amair bin 'Omar, Dick Bird? [Richard Bird]?, Salim bin Ghabaisha, Salim bin Kabina, Sheikh Hazaa bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Nahyan?, Sheikh Mubarak bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Wilfred Patrick Thesiger.

Represented Cultural Groups: Baluch, Iranian, Awamir Bedouin, Rashid Bedouin, Manasir Bedouin, Murra Bedouin, Duru Bedouin, Bani Kitab Bedouin, Naim [Na'im]

References:

Wilfred Thesiger, 1948. Personal Letters (Collection of Eton College Library).

Wilfred Thesiger, 1949. 'A Further Journey across the Empty Quarter', The Geographical Journal, Vol. 113, (Jan. - Jun.).

Wilfred Thesiger, 1960. Arabian Sands, Longmans, Green and Co Ltd: London.

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