Altogether
there are 10 main Bedouin tribes in Sinai with about
50,000 members. Approximately seven thousand Bedouins
from seven different tribes live in and around the
St. Katherine Protectorate. The Bedouin posses a
profound knowledge of their land; they are a conservative
people with a rich culture and an enviable reputation
for hospitality. Many Bedouin men work in tourism
enterprises though they some continue to cultivate
in their walled mountain gardens or in their oasis.
They grow vegetables, as well as almonds, pomegranates,
apples, apricots, olives and figs. Small amounts
of this produce is sold in the market--most is for
local consumption. The woman herd livestock and
produce traditional craft items. The stylized motifs
of their decorative embroidery and beadwork reflect
the local plants and animals. |
| Portraits |
Bedouin
woman in traditional dress |
Head cloth
(Ghutra) and rope (Agal) |
A customary
hair style at El Tih desert |
Gomaa Sleem
of Serabit El Khadim |
Bedouin
child
|
A Bedouin shiekh |
Veiled
eyes |
Deceased Shiekh of Um Ahmed Oasis
|
Bedouin
child and boy
|
Habitation
types |
Tents
set up for a wedding |
Traditional
tent 'Kheamet El Shaar'
|
Guests at a wedding |
Tents
set up for a wedding |
Tombs at
Nabi Saleh |
Sidi Amr Mausoleum |
Livelihoods-crafts-
customs |
Bedouin
guide at Serabit El Khadim |
Gameel runs
El Karm eco-lodge |
Bedouin
ranger at St. Katherine's |
Herding
is a main source of livelihood |
Gardens
at Firan Oasis |
Bedouin
Craft program at FanSina |
Customary
skills of bedouin women |
Traditional
and contemporary craft items |
slaughtering
a camel in a wedding |
Desert
brush for cooking |
Going to
market |
Shop selling
traditional crafts |
Food preparation
at a wedding |
Food preparation
at a wedding |
Sharing
the wedding meal |
Dancing
at a wedding celebration |
Department
store on wheels |
Rehabilitation:
growing acacia trees |
Stone
carving |
Traditional
dagger with silver sleeve |
Selling
crafts to tourists |
