Desert Adventure

A little known book, written circa 1955, describing in two parts, the authors journey on foot throughout Algeria, and then his time spent in Syria controlling grain distribution during a famine.

I have read a number of books about Sahara desert travel, and I find them fascinating. They never seem to be too repetitive, which given the subject matter, is a credit to the author's efforts. In this case much of the travel is with the Tuareg tribe. They in themselves are very interesting, their way of life effected too much by their honour and reputation. Carrying swords and lances, some wearing woven chainmail dating from the Crusades, they live as separate from other peoples as they can.

With camels to carry water and his equipment, and with the assistance of a guide (from town to town, where he would obtain a new guide) Stuart covers tremendous distances, under difficult circumstances in the heat and cold of the Sahara, with bandits, scorpions and even a rogue elephant (after Timbuktu).

The shorter, second part to the book takes place in Syria. A much more pleasant Syria than we hear about in our news the last few years under the awful tyrant al-Assad. Any story like these that I read make me thankful of the ten days I spent in Syria in the mid 90's, where almost without fail the people were friendly and helpful.

Stuarts role, employed by the Syrian authorities to monitor and redistribute grain from the villages of the Aleppo caza (a large district, twice the size of Belgium, we are told). He must visit each village leader and take a statement on the grain production and the villages requirements. Surpluses are redistributed to those villages (or to Aleppo) where production is insufficient for survival. Of course many lie in an attempt to remain better off, or to sell the grain on the black market for a profit, so it is Stuart's responsibility to figure all this out. For two years he performs this role, explaining the process, and telling of some of the more interesting events and interactions.

A quick read, at less than 200 pages, but a well paced and interesting read.
4 stars.