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THE BEDOUIN |
The Bedouin, whose name derives from the word bedu, meaning desert dweller, were the original inhabitants of the Sinai Mountains.
They originally came from the surrounding countries, such as Palestine, Jordan and Arabia and they settled down in the hard lands of the Sinai Peninsula, where they managed to maintain, at least until a few years ago, their traditional way of life with their original customs and habits.
They are divided into different tribes, that is to say social groups which gather together people with the same origins and traditions.
They originally lived off sheep-farming and cattle-breeding, and sometimes off basic forms of agriculture.
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 The Bedouin have always had to live the life of nomads, moving from one place to another within large but clearly defined boundaries.
When they had used up the resources of their surroundings, they had to move on.
Living this difficult nomadic life in an environment as difficult and scarce of resources as the desert is, the Bedouins world have found it impractical to build permanent houses of clay or crude bricks.
Therefore tents, easily transportable, became their normal homes and the centre of their social life.
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The tens of a tribe or clan ( a type of sub-tribe) are usually placed next to each other to from an encampment.
These are set up near wells ( in Arabic bir), water springs or around small oases.
They are also sometimes established nearby village with fixed populations who practice modern forms of agriculture.
The camel, the animal best suited to the climactic conditions of the desert, is not only their classical means of transport but also a source of food and wool for the Bedouin.
The wool is used to make clothes, rugs and other hand-made products.
This traditional way of life is now disappearing especially in Sinai.
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