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Wedding Henna
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Flush with wealth from its oil fields, the Sultanate of Oman has catapulted from Arabian Peninsula backwater to modern nation—while keeping alive traditions such as lailat al henna, a women-only celebration to honor a bride on the eve of her wedding. Her hands bear fanciful filigrees executed in henna, which will wear off in several weeks.
—From “Oman,” May 1995, National Geographic magazine
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Matrah
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Glittering crescent on the Gulf of Oman, Matrah beckons west of Muscat, the capital. Most places are now reachable by motor vehicle; as recently as 1970 the nation had only six miles [9.7 kilometers] of paved road.
—From “Oman,” May 1995, National Geographic magazine
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Bedouin Woman
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Veiled to all but her immediate family, a Bedouin woman pauses in her tent near the old inland capital of Nizwa. Bedouin females don the distinctive Omani burqa, or mask, after reaching puberty. This woman also wears a heavy silver necklace, called a hirz, for both adornment and protection. Verses from the Koran are tucked in a compartment to ward off evil.
—From “Oman,” May 1995, National Geographic magazine
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Camel Race
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Exploding from the gate, young jockeys spur their mounts in a race outside Muscat. Though gambling is illegal, winners' purses are often hefty, and a top racing camel sold for stud can fetch $130,000 or more.
—From “Oman,” May 1995, National Geographic magazine
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Bedouin Camel Herd
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
While the Bedouin still herd camels and goats and move camp every three or four months to find forage, they no longer depend on them for subsistance.
—From “Oman,” May 1995, National Geographic magazine
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Wadi Ghul Rugmaker
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Nimble fingers of a rugmaker dance over his loom in Wadi Ghul, a center of traditional weaving. With many rugmakers growing old, government-sponsored weaving centers strive to preserve the craft.
—From “Oman,” May 1995, National Geographic magazine
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Fresh Tuna
Photograph by James L. Stanfield
Ready for auction, freshly caught tuna await buyers at Sur, Oman’s chief fishing center. From the 7th to the 19th centuries Sur was a hub for the slave trade that stretched from East Africa to India.
—From “Oman,” May 1995, National Geographic magazine
