About this Item
Original blue cloth with black titles to the front 12 x 19cm. Printed by W&J Jarvis, London. 36pp. Covers very good slightly soiled. Interiors fine lightly tanned and partially foxed, previous owner?s name (Graham John Stephenson) lightly ink stamped to title. A loose folding map is called for, but missing from the end pocket. Extremely rare with Worldcat recording only one at the Lebanese American University (with map). There are none on Jisc and no other references found online. This was issued alongside IPC's newly published "Handbook of the Territories" which all new employees are advised to purchase. It includes an overview of company activities, with sections on Organisation (management, exploration, geology, production at Kirkuk and Qatar, Tripoli refinery, movement of oil); Arrangements for new personnel in London (medical, passports, passage etc); Arrival in the Middle East (reception, passports); General (tax, leave etc); and Conditions of Life in the Middle East (landscape, climate, health, accommodation, food, clothing, ladies? outfitting, furniture, servants, transport, education, social). These are revealing on cultural context. Eg, on servants "most ladies prefer, especially in the summer, to employ at least a cook-boy or cook-general. In Lebanon and Syria the domestic servants are mostly women, in Iraq almost entirely men [but] nannies in particular are hard to find. In Qatar male Indians are employed to supplement the shortage of local servants". On clothing "In all areas except the Persian Gulf ordinary English winter clothes are required, and even on the Gulf, spring and autumn clothes are necessary. Material of all kinds is obtainable in abundance in the towns of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq and in Bahrain, and all tailored at reasonable prices". A section on Local Population and Behaviour of Personnel is nuanced: "The type of local population will depend on location. In the remoter stations, there will be met, apart from clerks, doctors and engineers, only labourers and artisans who may reach a comparatively high standard of skill and intelligence but not of culture; or tribal notables who will have dignity, intelligence and personality but again no culture of the sort we know. The labourers will in many cases be themselves tribesmen. In the towns, there will be met people of far greater education, officials and officers, notables, men of religion and the professions". It takes a dynamic view of rapid social change, warning that things should not be taken at face value. Eg "a new Europeanised middle class is being formed in these countries, some of whose members are genuinely European in outlook, while others have so far adopted only the externals, dress and the appliances of material convenience. The standard reached varies. It should be remembered that the great revolution of thought that these countries are experiencing brings a special sensitiveness of its own and that care should be taken to avoid comment which can be taken as disparagement and cause offence. In particular one should try not to offend the susceptibilities of the Muslims. Labour should be treated firmly, fairly, good-naturedly and without familiarity. Persons in charge should avoid the use of foul language [and] violence. Loss of temper is usually a sign of weakness and is interpreted as such". The section on Islam covers the 5 duties, the veil, and Muslim sects. The section on Arab examinations urges staff to take up the language. Three levels are offered (Elementary Colloquial, Intermediate Colloquial, Higher Arabic), with rewards of £5, £30 and £100 for successful completion. Seller Inventory # 4425
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