Chapter II: Preface: vii

CHAPTER I

THE SUDAN COAST

Approach by sea through coral reefs — The maritime plain and the
mountains beyond — Desert flowers — Summer calm on the pearling
grounds — Sandstorm — Winter rain — Golden desert and turquoise
sea — Coral gardens — Port Sudan — Suakin 1

CHAPTER II

THE PEOPLE, SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS

The three nationalities — The negroes — Escapes from slavery,
Mabrûk’s adventure — Introduction to a Hamitic native — Dress
and arms — Women — Sexual morality, duels — Government under
Shêkhs — Tribal fights — Fraternity and Equality, little
Liberty — The power of tradition — Mohammedanism 15

CHAPTER III

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES AND SUPERSTITIONS

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 and utensils — Amusements 50

CHAPTER V

SAILORS, FISHERMEN AND PEARL DIVERS

The _sambûk_ — Arab travel — Pearl fishing — Diving — Fishing nets
and spears — Sting rays and sawfish 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 CORAL REEFS

CHAPTER VII

CORALS AND CORAL ANIMALS

Importance of corals — Coral polyp and sea anemone — Propagation
by cuttings — Colonial polyps — Forms of corals — Fungia —
Coral gardens — Colours — Place in marine life, and in Evolution 83

CHAPTER VIII

THE BUILDING OF REEFS

Fate of dead corals — Stony seaweeds — Rate of 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 boat channel — Distinctive
features of coral reefs formed by abrasion alone in Zanzibar,
Cape Verde Islands, and near Alexandria — Recrystallisation
of limestone — Three kinds of reef — The problem of Atolls —
Darwin’s Theory — The Funafuti boring — Atolls formed by direct
growth 98