Researching from travellers' accounts?

So I've just been digging around on Amazon for books on Bedouins, especially Bedouins in the Sahara, for my fantasy novels, and found a number of books that sound really interesting- travellers' accounts and accounts of from the 19th and early 20th century, such as Rosita Forbes' "Secret of the Sahara and Ronald Bodley's "The Soundless Sahara" and "Wind In The Sahara". I'm thinking of getting these books because of many of the insights that they give into Bedouin culture. (I also found Notes On The Folklore Of The Algerian Hills And Desert.") I'm aware of the fact that many of these books are biased, but the ones I found have a lot of first-hand information. I also plan on using "The Bedouins and The Desert: Aspects of Nomadic Life In The Arab East." What are everyone's opinions on doing research from travellers' accounts?

BTW, can anyone recommend books from an Algerian perspective on Bedouin life and culture?

edited 1st Aug '12 11:14:19 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

While travelers' accounts can be useful, unless we're talking historical fantasy here I'd advise against using them as major sources.

@nrjxll: Yep, it's a Historical Fantasy. And they wouldn't be major sources- the way I'm planning it is that's it's going to be kind of like The Song Of Ice And Fire (which *whispers* I haven't read, but heard about.) I'm also looking for Algerian sources on the same topic.

edited 1st Aug '12 10:14:25 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

I'd caution about unthinkingly adopting attitudes from those contemporary travelers' tales that might be more readily criticized today — the unthinking acceptance of racial prejudice, for instance.

Great atmosphere-primers, though.

Do your research, though. Don't just rely on the tales of the foreigner who didn't get it, when it comes to making your setting actually work.

@Morven: I'm aware that the books are biased. BTW, does anyone know of any Arab sources on Sahara Bedouins written in English?