The following is intended as an introduction to the background of Ibra’ and Mudayrib, the towns where the research was carried out, of which the following two articles are the preliminary result. This area of interior Oman is surrounded by the eastern Hajar mountain range on one side and the Wahiba sand desert on the other. Situated just south of the Tropic ofCancer at latitude 22∘30 22 ∘ 30 N and longitude between 38 ∘ and 39 ∘E, it is characterized by a succession of foothills and plains with an average altitude of 400 m., overlooked by the Hajar peaks which reach 2000 m. above the Wādi Bani Khālid gap. Average annual rainfall is 80 mm., mostly in March and April. Average annual temperature is 26.8∘ C with an average relative humidity of 36.7. Maximum temperatures may exceed 41∘ during the four hottest months of the year (May, June, July, August)