The greatness of the Empty Quarter desert and its economic and geographical importance make it imperative for authors to write about it. It is an area that deserves all the attention of those interested and specialists, because of its economic and scientific components, as well as its geographical nature and unique terrain that attracts adventurers, explorers and those looking for fun and recreation, especially in the winter.
The book “The Traces and Secrets of the Empty Quarter Desert” by the writer Said bin Salem al Rashdi came to explore this desert with a picture, word and events through eight chapters. the first chapter included the history, population and societal characteristics, including the names of the parts of the Empty Quarter desert, their history, origins and their relationship to the valleys descending from Dhofar Mountains, such as Ramlet al Malhit and Ramlet Muqshan, as well as some parts in the depths of the desert, such as Ramlet Ghneim and Ramlat al Dakakah. It addressed the population pattern of this desert, and its historical importance as it was a transit area for caravans coming from the Governorate of Dhofar, transporting goods, the most important of which is frankincense to the parts of the Arabian Peninsula, in addition to the discoveries that were found in the middle and outskirts of the desert, such as Niyabat Al Hashman and Khor bin Hamouda, which indicates its deep historical roots.
The second chapter contained geography, climate, topography and water resources, as well as the names of some of the dune topography that is locally recognised as Al-Uruq, which are longitudinal high-rise dunes that reach tens of kilometres in length, and the names of al Qaaed, which are conical or star dunes that stands high for hundreds of metres.
In the third and fourth chapters, the book dealt with clothing, ornaments, jewellery, methods of water conservation, food, textiles and other needs, in addition to the types of weapons, including guns, daggers and tools used by desert dwellers.
Because of the importance of camels and the wildlife in this desert, the fifth and sixth chapters included the wildlife that abounded in the Empty Quarter desert, many of which have become extinct at present due to overhunting, especially the oryx, which has become completely extinct, as well as the white deer, which has become rare. The writer did not overlook the important plants in that desert, including the Abla tree and the flower tree that camels eat. The fifth chapter included the importance of camels, their advantages, types and colours, and the extent to which the dwellers of the Empty Quarter were attached to them.
As for the seventh chapter, which is devoted to the British travellers who crossed this desert and wrote about it, the writer dealt with the importance of what previous writers had done in documenting their travels in the Empty Quarter desert. These travellers refuted the saying that was prevalent among many people, that the Empty Quarter is empty. travellers met with the inhabitants of those tribes. These travellers succeeded at documenting the life of people in the Empty Quarter and this is conclusive evidence of the existence of a population in this vast area with difficult terrain.
The eighth chapter sheds light on the government’s endeavour to find comprehensive development, including basic services that correspond to the modern era and its requirements. It also highlights the great changes in the lifestyle of the Bedouins, who were wandering in the corners of this desert. As a traveller from one place to another, many of them nowadays live a civil life, yet their love and passion for camels are still ingrained in their hearts.
