| PARTI |
| THE DESERT AND ITSPEOPLE |
| PAGE |
| Preface | [vii] |
| CHAPTER I |
| THE SUDAN COAST |
| Approach by sea through coral reefs — Themaritime plain and the mountains beyond — Desert flowers — Summercalm on the pearling grounds — Sandstorm — Winter rain — Goldendesert and turquoise sea — Coral gardens — Port Sudan — Suakin | [1] |
| CHAPTER II |
| THE PEOPLE, SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUSCONDITIONS |
| The three nationalities — The negroes —Escapes from slavery, Mabrûk’s adventure — Introduction to aHamitic native — Dress and arms — Women — Sexual morality, duels —Government under Shêkhs — Tribal fights — Fraternity and Equality,little Liberty — The power of tradition — Mohammedanism | [a]15] |
| CHAPTER III |
| RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES ANDSUPERSTITIONS |
| Religious phraseology — Veneration of Shêkhs— “Old Man Flea” and his legends — The mûled celebration and“dervish dance” — Amulets — Witchcraft — Milking — Evil Eye —Pearls — Cats — Eclipse of the Moon — Medical — British parallels —Honesty | [35] |
| CHAPTER IV |
| THE DAILY LIFE OF THE PEOPLE |
| Desert farming — Nomad life — Tents andutensils — Amusements | [50] |
| CHAPTER V |
| SAILORS, FISHERMEN AND PEARLDIVERS |
| The sambûk — Arab travel — Pearlfishing — Diving — Fishing nets and spears — Sting rays andsawfish | [59] |
| CHAPTER VI |
| WOMEN’S LIFE |
| Social position and influence — Divorce —Ibrahim’s wife, forgiveness and death — Women’s work — Home | [73] |
| PART II |
| CORALS AND CORALREEFS |
| CHAPTER VII |
| CORALS AND CORAL ANIMALS |
| Importance of corals — Coral polyp and seaanemone — Propagation by cuttings — Colonial polyps — Forms ofcorals — Fungia — Coral gardens — Colours — Place in marine life,and in Evolution | [83] |
| CHAPTERVIII |
| THE BUILDING OF REEFS |
| Fate of dead corals — Stony seaweeds — Rateof growth of a reef — Destruction of coral by sponge, mollusca,&c. — Form of a coral reef — Origin by growth of coral —Abrasion of the shore forming reef flat — Origin of the boatchannel — Distinctive features of coral reefs formed by abrasionalone in Zanzibar, Cape Verde Islands, and near Alexandria —Recrystallisation of limestone — Three kinds of reef — The problemof Atolls — Darwin’s Theory — The Funafuti boring — Atolls formedby direct growth | [98] |
| CHAPTER IX |
| THE MAKING OF THE RED SEA |
| Climate, alternations of desert and seaconditions — Hot sand-bearing winds — Rainfall — Peculiarities ofthe tide — Canal-like shape of Red Sea — The great Rift Valley —Origin of the “Brothers” and “Daedalus Reef” — “Emerald Island” —The coast and reefs — Maritime plain — Its coral border — Recentnature of internal structure of coral rock — Elevation of coastline— Foundations of the reefs — Previous theories inadmissible —Rawaya peninsula — Three steps on sides of Rift Valley — Successiveelevations — Harbours — Problem of their origin — A naturalpromenade — Coast-wise travel — The Shubuk labyrinth — Summary ofhistory of the Red Sea | [118] |