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DOUGHTY, Charles M. Travels In Arabia Deserta.
Cambridge: At the University Press, 1888. In two volumes. First edition. Tall 8vo., recently rebound with dark blue calf spines, cloth, raised bands, leather spine labels, xx, 623, (624 blank); xiv, 690pp. With illustrations and with a large linen backed folding map in a pocket at the rear of volume one. This copy has a perforated library stamp on the titlepages of both volumes and a small rubberstamp at the foot of the first page of the Preface in volume one, and at the foot of the Contents page of volume two, otherwise this is a near fine copy of this important work.
Charles Montague Doughty [1843-1926], British traveller and writer, educated at Cambridge graduating in natural science. Doughty turned to independent travel and study, freely adventuring in his chosen fields of geology, archaeology and philology. His extensive journeys eventually led him to Palestine, Syria and Arabia. "In 1876 Doughty set out from Damascus with a pilgrim caravan. At Madain Salih he left the Haj and surveyed the Al Hajar monuments and inscriptions. He then decided to reach independently the oasis of Khaibar, and to this end attached himself to the wandering Bedouins. Dependent on their movements, his dangers were now multiplied and his life was repeatedly endangered by the inevitable suspicion, fanaticism and treachery which on occasion broke through the respect and hospitality which Doughty's courageous personality compelled. He reached Khaibar from Taima in the summer of 1877, was sent back to Hail, thence to Al Qasim, Buraida and 'Anaiza. From there, he travelled southwards towards Mecca and reached safety at Jidda in 1878." Doughty's published account of his journey "Travels in Arabia Deserta" cast new light on the geology, hydrography and ethnology of Arabia. "Doughty was less concerned to produce a chronicle or work of information than to create, out of his unique experience, an unique monument of what he considered pure English prose......His profound literary sense had told him aright when it inspired him to treat his remote and lonely adventuring in this bare, majestic style."