413
EL GHOEYR.
enemies in the plains of the Nedjed. The Beni Szakher are most
dreaded by them, on account of their acquaintance with the country, ¬
and peace seldom lasts long between the two tribes. The
encampment where I spent this day was robbed of all its camels
last winter by the Beni Szakher, who drove off, in one morning,
upwards of twelve hundred belonging to their enemies. The Howeytat -
receive considerable sums of money as a tribute from the
Egyptian pilgrim caravan; they also levy certain contributions
upon the castles on the Syrian Hadj route, situated between Maan
and Tebouk, which they consider as forming a part of their territory. ¬
They have become the carriers of the Egyptian Hadj, in the
same manner, as the Aeneze transport with their camels the
Syrian pilgrims and their baggage. When at variance with the
Pashas of Egypt, the Howeytat have been known to plunder the
caravan ; a case of this kind happened about ten years ago, when
the Hadj was returning from Mekka ; the principal booty consisted
of several thousand camel loads of Mocha coffee, an article which
the pilgrims are in the constant habit of bringing for sale to Cairo ;
the Bedouins not knowing what to do with so large a quantity.
sold the greater part of it at Hebron, Tafyle, and Kerek, and that
year happening to be a year of dearth, they gave for every mea
sure of corn an equal measure of coffee. The Howeytat became
Wahabis ; but they paid tribute only for one year, and have now
joined their forces with those of Mohammed Aly, against Ibn
Saoud.
August 16th.—We set out for the encampment of the Sheikh of
the northern Howeytat, with the tent and family of my guide: who
was afraid of leaving them in this place where he thought himself too
much exposed to the incursions of the Beni Szakher. We ascended
on foot, through many Wadys of winter torrents, up the southern
