Bedouins life

Rum is the home of many Bedouin tribes. Six different tribe's lives in the wadi, the main ones being the Howeitat, Bani Sakhr, and the Sirhan the first hold all the area around Wadi Rum from Taba in Egypt, north to Al Husseinyer on the Desert Highway, and well into Saudi Arabia to the south and figured prominently in the Arab revolt. Most are nomadic, but several families who pitch their tents near the police post earn money by taking tourists on camel rides; which is an integral part of Bedouin life, although the number is decreasing.

These families share generosity and hospitability characteristics. Visitors are received warmly in a tent that varies in size according to the owner's wealth and number of his family. It is normally supported on two or three poles and measures from 9 meters long by 3.5 meters wide. The dark brown or black color, of the low-slung tent enables it to be seen from a great distance against the neutral background of the desert, it is woven from a mixture of sheep and goat hair, the cloth being sewn together in stripes so that it can easily be replaced when worn. Several stripes of white cotton cloth are inserted into the black to give added strength. Ideally suited to the environment, the tent can be quickly erected and just as easy dismantled and loaded on to a camel for transportation to new grazing.

Its cloth is waterproof for the rare occasions when it rains, and during chilly nights the tight weave acts as a reasonably effective wind-break, whilst on hot days its sides can be rolled up for ventilation. A central curtain divides the tent into male and female quarters, its patterned side facing the male domain. The focal point of the male domain is a fireplace sunk in the sand, surrounded by utensils for preparing tea or coffee: a pestle and mortar, an enamel kettle, brass coffee-pots, a tray with small coffee-cups and glasses, spoons, tongs for raking the embers, a ladle for roasting the beans and a decorated coffee-bean bag hanging from the tent-pole. Carpets or mattresses are laid on the ground, with cushions and camel saddles for the guests to lean on. Guests are always entertained in the male section of the tent: if food is to be served, it is cooked and carried in from the women's quarters, where the bulk of family possessions are stored.

Decorative weaving is expressed in rugs, cushion covers, saddle-bags, camel-halters, girdles, belts, marriage bags and woven and plaited straps which a bride wears around her neck. Small cowrie's shells are often sewn on to the cloth as an added decoration. After being received warmly Bedouins who are passionately fond of music which, with story-telling and poetry, plays a significant role in their lives, may sing to entertain you using a musical instrument called Rababa. Even pounding coffee produces rhythm audible at some distance which also announces to neighbors the presence of guests. Coffee itself which is a symbol of hospitality is prepared by roasting the coffee beans on camp fire, pound then toss them into boiling water and after boiling several times, the contents are poured into another pot over freshly ground cardamom seeds. This is allowed to simmer for about fifteen minutes; its pleasantly bitter aroma pervades the tent.

Bedouins take great bride in their tents, coffee and in customs also, police clothes at wadi rum is very beautiful and glamorous desert rig- a divided- full-length khaki skirt, or zaboun, worn with a red and white check kuffiyeh tied at a rakish angle with a double knotted black agal pinned with a silver camel badge of the corps. Polished cartridge straps across their chest and a small dagger is worn through another cartridge belt around their waist. A .32 Smith and Wesson on the left hip completes their attire.