The Lost Oases


Read by Steven Seitel

(4.8 stars; 12 reviews)

This book was published in 1925. Oxford-educated Egyptian diplomat and geographic explorer, Hassanein Bey (Ahmad Muhammad Hassanayn), with two companions and a few cranky camels, trekked south across the vast sandy Libyan desert, from the Mediterranean to the Sudan, in the process rediscovering and confirming the locations of two “lost” oases known previously only through “vague tradition.”

More than just a record of scientific and geographic discovery, the book evinces a deep respect and reverence for the beauty and cruelty of the desert. In the author’s own words, “In the silent infinity of the desert, body, mind, and soul are cleansed. Man feels nearer to God, feels the presence of a mighty Power from which nothing any longer diverts his attention. Little by little an inevitable fatalism and an unshakable belief in the wisdom of God’s decree bring resignation, even to the extent of offering his life to the desert without grudge. There are times when he feels that it really does not matter…”

This is a modestly written record of an epic adventure, one which could not have succeeded without the support of King Fouad I of Egypt and the tolerant friendship of Sayed Idris El Senussi, head of the mysterious Senussi Brotherhood in Kufra that generally did not welcome western explorers. (Summary by Steve Seitel) (7 hr 15 min)

Chapters

Ch.1 The Desert 12:55 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.2 Planning the Journey; Ch.3 Blessing the Baggage 9:07 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch4. Supplies and Equipment 17:40 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.5 Plots and Omens 14:22 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.6 The Senussis 21:39 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.7 The Peace of Jaghbub 13:19 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.8 Meals and Medicine 12:35 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.9 Sand-Storms and the Road to Jalo 16:11 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.10 The Oasis at Jalo 32:27 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.11 On the Trek 29:21 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.12 The Road to Zieghen Well 37:11 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.13 The Changing Desert and a Corrected Map 20:39 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.14 Kufra: Old Friends and a Change of Plan 21:07 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.15 Kufra: Its Place on the Map 25:33 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.16 The Lost Oases: Arkenu 22:45 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.17 The Lost Oases: Ouenat 22:17 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.18 Night Marches to Erdi 32:28 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.19 Entering the Sudan 27:36 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.20 To Furawia on Short Rations 23:27 Read by Steven Seitel
Ch.21 Journey's End 22:21 Read by Steven Seitel

Reviews

great insight


(4 stars)

listened to an English man's similar journey through the same country. The English man's journey was primarily about slaughtering the wild life


(5 stars)

Such an interesting book and I feel the reader does an excellent job !