Page 100 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 3

92 NON-BEDOUTN NOMADS

er-Rashid’s court at Baghdad. They are sprinkled over the whole of
nomad Arabia, but the various groups under their separate sheikhs
keep to their own regions, where they ply their trades as smiths,
tinkers, carpenters, and cattle-surgeons among the Bedouins and the
oasis-dwellers. Their skill in hunting has passed into fable with the
Arabs; and in fact they are so expert that they live well, even in
the most barren wilderness, from the fruits of the chase. They are
well-to-do, earning an ample livelihood by their craftsmanship,
and they travel without fear throughout all the desert, where no
thief would rob them and no raider harry'them. Their knowledge
of the country is unsurpassed. They have no camels ; their beasts
of burden are donkeys, the best breed being a large white ass
almost as powerful as a mule. They rear herds of sheep and goats
in the Hamad, and their tents are well stocked with every kind of
nomad gear. A northern Sulubbi will wear in winter a'waivi robe
of gazelle-skins. The Bedouins accuse them of eating carrion and
beasts that have died of themselves, as well as vermin ; and there
would seem to be truth in the first charge as far as the Suleib (Soleyb)
and Ghaneimi are concerned, and in the second if it is limited to
locusts and hedgehogs (the locust, however, is a delicacy much
prized not only by the Sulubba, but by all nomads). It is impossible
to estimate the numbers of the tribe, since they never assemble in
any one place.
4. The Sunnd1

The STJNNA* are the smiths’ caste, sometimes settled in the
villages and sometimes wandering with the tribes {Sunnd' is plural
of Sdni‘ = artisan, smith). They are braziers, farriers, tinners,
blacksmiths, and workers in wood and stone among the tribes and
in the oases. Thus they are both villagers and nomads. They may
marry with the Huteim but with no Bedouins. They are probably
a different race from the Arabs, and are distinguished from them
by their features.
5. The Naivdr

The NAWAR are gipsies, found in Arabia as in other parts of the
universe, but not in great numbers. Their habits and activities are
the same there as elsewhere.

6. The Haicdzin

The HAW AZIN (HAWAZIM or ‘AWAZIM) are a nomad tribe
which is not admitted to marriage and fellowship by true Arabs.
As a considerable tribal unit it is found only in and about the
principality of Koweit, ranging from the outskirts of the town