What kind of memories does an American boy grow up wit on the shores of the Arabian Gulf? Is there anything to take the place of the old swimming hole, of autumn leaves or the early morning sound of mowers on the lawn? Yes, says Bill Tracy, whose nostalgic recollections of what it was like make up this warm and touching story.

The beachhead had been established on the shores of the Arabian Gulf and the first handful of men sent out to Saudi Arabia had begun to search for oil—in cars, on camels, and even on foot—in an area larger than Texas. But on the way to help were two more men and an urgently needed airplane—an airplane equipped with a camera and a radio, their eagerly awaited aerial eyes and ears.

From all over Asia and even from Europe, the Mogul emperor Shah Jehan brought artisans and materials for the magnificent mausoleum he was building in memory of his beloved wife. It took 20,000 men more than 20 years to finish it and it cost $10 million, but the results were worth it. He had built the incomparable Taj Mahal, one of the most breathtaking buildings in the world.

For many centuries jihad, the dreaded holy war of Islam, has brought frightful visions of massacre to western minds. Actually, as noted Islamist Professor Majid Khadduri explains in this article, the jihad is now largely a religious duty aimed as much at spiritual salvation as the protection of the state.

Two years ago Robin Fedden of England, a well known traveler and writer, became one of the very few westerners to penetrate Turkey's remote Çilo-Sat range. In his article he describes the trip during which he explored the rugged mountains, collected plant specimens for the Royal Botanic Gardens and met the hospitable Kurdish shepherds who live in this isolated region.