The book explores the Arabian Gulf around 1900 through the eyes of the traveler Hermann Burchardt - a man without political mandate or economic interests, who sought to capture an image of the foreign reality of life without criticizing or attempting to change it. The book places the sources in the historical context of travel and photography, the political conditions, and the presence of Europeans. However, more than such Western references, the Arab institution of hospitality established the existence of the images. Hermann Burchardt traveled as a guest and adhered to the rules of generosity and reciprocity. His images document the here and now of his surroundings. He was aware of the intentions of international politics and economics; yet his images depict places and landscapes where Europeans played only a minor role. He seeks.