The Gulf : Arabia's western approaches / Molly Izzard.

Includes bibliographical references (p.309-310) and index.

Part One: THE ARABIAN ELDORADO -- 1.The Arabian peninsula - its geography - the Gulf states - their resources - their people - Haves and Have-nots- the structure of wealth - the foreign community - its status- its role - the Buzz-Phrase Generator – 2. Saudi Arabia – the Wahabi faith - its connection with the Saud family - pre-Islamic Arabia – the concept of Islam - the Wahabi interpretation and first expansion of Wahabi power. Early Islam - wars of conquest the Sunni-Shiah Schism – the Mohurram passion-play in modern Bahrain. Wahabi piracy - interference with East India Company shipping - British naval and military intervention – the Trucial states – the Ottoman occupation of Arabia – eclipse of the Saud family – its re-establishment- King Ibn Saud – his early adventures- the collapse of the Ottoman empire in 1918 -- 3. Arrival in Kuwait – the town – the Dickson household - the Ottoman period – the Great War – Wahabi encroachments – collapse of inland caravan trade - democratic innovations - the British frontier settlements of 1922/3 – British Mandate in Irak - Britain's political ascendancy in the Gulf - national aspirations - an old- style Political Agent – 4. The Mandate period - the revival of Wahabism – Ibn Saud's encouragement - the Ikhwan – the Saudi expansion and the unification of central Arabia – the Ikhwan revolt - its defeat. Modern innovations - foreign advisers - the coming of American technology - World War II and the development of the oil industry - America takes over British subsidies - luxury and wealth - Wahabi prejudices - Koranic law – public executions - ostracism of foreigners – present revival of Wahabi discipline – Amiral decrees - drunkenness - road accidents – the causeway to Bahrain -- 5. Kuwait - Jahra oasis – the Red Fort – more about the Ikhwan. The emergence of modern Saudi Arabi - Arab dress - immigrant communities – Arab chauvinism - the Palestinians – a two-tier society - material prosperity – the legacy of the pearl industry – how it operated - its collapse – F’jeri music – hard times - the coming of oil – 6. Bahrain – Manama and Mohurraq – land reclamation - its history – structure of society – Sunnis and Shiahs - the Persian community – more about the pearl industry - the oyster beds - the seasonal yield – collapse of the industry - effect on the population. The mercantile oligarchy – the Big Five – their origins – gardens – the boutique business – early air transport – air hostesses – bachelor girls - female emancipation – the Arab interpretation - modern marriage- persistence of traditional attitudes -- Part Two: THE ALLUVIAL Flow Of COMMERCE – 7. Attitudes in common between Bahrain and Kuwait – their shared antecedents – ‘sharif' families - their marriage pattern - development of mercantile élite. British activity in Gulf - the alliance with Oman - the Omani Sultanate - defeat of the pirates - the Treaty of 1820. Article 9 inserted by Capt. Thompson - the Evangelicals - the slave trade out of East Africa - Ethiopian and Galla slaves - eunuchs - their loss-rate - the Omani involvement - the Zanzibar market. Free Trade - Indian traders - increased demand for slaves - Qawasimi take to slave-running - French and American slavers - international cooperation – slave markets closed- British assume Zanzibar Protectorate - Emily Ruete - negro communities in modern Gulf – ‘ laywa' music - spirit summoning – concubinage - its abolition - persistence of traffic into 20th century – 8. Basra at the turn of the century - British business firms - a Consul at noon – river thieves - spheres of interest - German ambitions - the Berlin-Bagdad railway - Kuwait as a terminal - Shaikh Mubarak seizes power in Kuwait - solicits British protection. Early steam navigation in Gulf – the Persian War of 1856/7 - Abadan given to Bani Ch’ab – HMS Spbinx - a Russian naval visit - a Briton rises to the occasion. The arms trade out of Muscat – its suppression – tightening of British control. Navy adopts oil fuel – Admiralty commission visits Kuwait – 9. The Persian oil concession - Abadan – Churchill's intervention - local rulers. Pan-Islam - spheres of interest in Persia – worsening relations – German propaganda warfare - Turkey's declaration of war - Force D- capture of Basra - consolidation of British presence in Gulf - Basra in 1914 - Sir Percy Cox – German saboteurs - intrigue in Bahrain – British occupy Bushire. Wassmuss - his guerilla activities in SW Persia – British discomfiture - the captives of Ahram – the Tangistan heroes - arrest of Wassmuss - his return to Tangistan – his death – his effect on official British attitudes - Imperial Airways re-routed - long-term consequences – 10. The Mandate period – Jashanmall Jhangiani - effects of Partition of India - Rawdon Spinney - the Nairn brothers - Nairn Transport - the desert furrow – first Damascus–Bagdad motorised desert crossing - the route -journey time - tribal safeconducts – Overland Desert Mail. Modern Arabian highways – freight hauling – the Nairn bus-trains – the Rutba Wells fort - Imperial Airways - communications between Gulf and Mediterranean – American University in Beirut - its importance to Gulf community. Introduction of modern education to Gulf - the American missionaries - Dr Zwemer - travelling clinics - Christian and Jewish cemeteries in Bahrain – the American Mission in Bahrain - its influence - the Yateem family – 11. Major Frank Holmes - his arrival in the Gulf - Eastern and General Syndicate Ltd - artesian wells – the Burgan seepage -British Government interest-Holmes obtains exploratory concession from Ibn Saud – sends Mohammed Yateem to open negotiations for Kuwait concession – challenges APOC – Holmes' style of business – Colonial Office policy on Concessions – Shaikh Ahmed's skill – he drives up the price - Holmes brings in the Americans – the ´open door’ policy invoked – the Kuwait Oil Company. Holmes' personality - Hajji Williamson – his history - his use as negotiator - rivalry with Holmes - a late contender – final agreement -- Part Three: CRAZED WITH THE SPELL OF FAR ARABIA – 12. The lower Gulf – urbanisation – coastal development – the hinterland – road accidents - the Hajjar mountains - the Batinah coast - Khor Fakkan - modern road systems - decorated trucks – 13. The federated Emirates - Shaikh Rashid of Dubai - the town – origins of the state - the Maktum clan - Sharjah's early pre-eminence - Wahabi pressure - rivalry with Abu Dhabi - revival of piracy -British reprisals. Decline of Sharjah and emergence of Dubai. Oawasimi settlements on Persian shore of Gulf - Persian Government imposes centralisation on coast - emigration to Dubai and Bahrain – Lingah decays. Indian traders – the BI boats – Dubai steals a march - the Asian immigrants - the Creek - marine activity - the entrepot trade – clandestine markets – dynastic strife between Dubai and Deera – wartime blackmarket – the growth of prosperity the modern city – 'fleshpedlars' - the female immigrant -- 14. Abu Dhabi - sightseeing - the new town – expatriate living standards - directional confusion - an English home. The agricultural research station - cosmopolitan staff – how to make the desert blossom – the modern life-style - contented refugees- a family party – 15. The tribal past - difficulties of integration - camel breeding – expatriate society - Arab sensitivity – the cocktail party – a Persian entertainment. The growth of management – effects of inflation – intolerance of criticism - the public relations industry - historical parallels -- 16. Qatar – a luxury hotel – a rustic presence – generous patronage - a modest Parnassus. Town planning – old palaces - the museum - agricultural projects - problems of water supply – the state farm – manpower – problems of management - the decision-making process - pitfalls of consultancy - a royal gift - contrasts in living standards - a literary interlude.