12mo. x, 238 pp., / 166 pp., / 219 pp., half-titles, 24 hand coloured plates after drawings by F. Massard, period tan full calf, decorated flat spine gilt, gilt edges, light shelf wear to covers, edges rubbed, marbled end paper, set clean and in very good condition, Rare complete copy, biblio, index, Ferra Jeune Libraire, Paris, first edition, 1816.

Synopsis

Rare early work on the Bedouins. The editor in his preface mentions that the author’s name of this book is Dom Raphael of Egyptian origin who brought to France material related to Bedouin life, gathered by him from Egypt and Syria where he lived for a long time. In fact, Raphael de Monachis [Dom Raphael, Raphaël Antun Zakhûr de Monachis], born in Cairo from a Syrian family, was the priest to the Greek community in Cairo, He was an Arab member of the French Institute of Egypt and the first interpreter of the Diwan from Cairo. This work edited by F. J. Mayeux, provides a comprehensive view of the local tribes in Egypt and Syria at the time of the French Expedition and was probably composed during the French occupation.
The first volume deals with the tribes of Egypt before and after Islam, while the other two volumes discuss the conditions, customs, and traditions of the Bedouins of Syria, based on the personal observations of the author.
Bibliographic references: Gay 3587 under F. J. Mayeux; Macro 1555; OCLC 25988256.