"Bedouin" - translated from Arabic "nomad" or "desert dweller". So it is customary to call those residents of the Arab world who prefer a nomadic lifestyle, regardless of their religious affiliation and nationality.
The lands on which the Bedouins once lived and live now
Bedouins have lived in deserts for centuries. Their primitive homeland is the inner countries of the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula. Then they began to spread throughout Mesopotamia, Syria and Chaldea. Today, Bedouins of Arab origin live on lands stretching from Persia to the shores of the Atlantic, from the Kurdish mountains to Sudan. But on these vast lands, they dominate only within the deserts. Territories suitable for agriculture are occupied by other peoples.
The coast of the Red Sea was chosen for life by two large Bedouin tribes: Al-Abbadi and Al-Maazi. The first settle down near the coast and refute the idea of themselves as a land people. Al-Abbadi's representatives can even be found among local instructors, divers and fishing boat captains. Al-Maazi are desert Bedouins who came to the coast from the interior more than 100 years ago. Initially, serious disputes flared up between the two clans over the division of coastal territories, which ended in a great meeting of elders and a clear division of the boundaries of the tribes' possessions.
In Egypt, Bedouins are not counted, as they do not have passports and do not participate in population censuses. There are approximate figures: from 50 to 150 thousand people.
Social system, traditions, way of life
Bedouins live in tribes and clans (Hamullah) and practice Islam. The head of the tribe is the sheikh, this position is inherited. In Bedouin society, there is the institution of "qadi". He is represented by persons of the clergy, who are entrusted with the rights and responsibilities for the implementation of acts of civil status, for example, the registration of marriage.
The houses of the Bedouins are traditionally tents, but now many nomads, especially the sheikhs who have settled somewhere on the coast, may have a very fashionable villa as their main dwelling.
Among the Bedouins, there is a tradition of blood feud, conflicts between tribes and clans arise for various reasons. To solve the problem, the sheikhs of the tribes agree on monetary compensation for the damage, after which a "sulkha" is announced - forgiveness.
According to another well-established tradition, before the wedding, the groom's family gives the bride's parents a certain amount of money, with which they buy gold jewelry for the newlywed.
Most of the Bedouins of Egypt do not seek to maintain contact with modern society, they are self-sufficient and shy away from settlements. Old people teach young people to read the Koran. The lot of women is housekeeping and caring for livestock. Because of the heat, men hunt in the evenings, and during the day they rest in the shade under the tents. Bedouins are also engaged in agriculture, but this is possible only in mountainous areas with constant water sources.
Some of the more modern and progressive members of Bedouin society are involved in commerce and other work activities. Thus, one family living on the Sinai coast has tamed a flock of dolphins, which, on the orders of their owners, begin to entertain tourists.
Recently, the most progressive Bedouins have even taken part in events such as celebrating the New Year with tourists from Russia. Imagine: desert, heat, cheerful Russians, round dances circling on the sand together with the Bedouins - what are the lovers of exotic rest not going to do?
Bedouins, due to their alienation from society, their original way of life, independence, endurance and adaptability to difficult conditions, for the majority of civilized peoples remain something mysterious, exotic, incomprehensible. But the echoes of modern civilization, no, no, and make their way into the lonely proud clans. Some of their representatives, contrary to tradition, choose the path of business and commerce. Despite this, innate pride and independence still remain a striking feature of their mentality.
