206 THE SECRET OF SAHARA: KUFARA 



them and only a power as great as the Senussi could hold 

 them in check. They were practically infidels before 

 they made their submission to Sidi Ben Ali, having very 

 nearly lapsed from Islam, though, as they come from 

 Yemen, they probably formed part of the armies who 

 followed Beni Suleim in the eleventh century, from 

 Midian through Syria and Egypt to Cyrenaica where 

 some tribes settled, notably the Abidat, Hassan, Faied, 

 Brahsa, Hohsa, Abid Auwaghir and Mogharba. With 

 the fierce religious fanaticism which they absorbed fresh 

 from the fervent ascetics who were enthusiastically 

 preaching a new, pure Islam, were mixed the hatred 

 and scorn of all who had not received this teaching. 

 "He who is not with us is against us," was interpreted 

 literally and the land was closed against the stranger, 

 be he Christian or Moslem. 



It was easy, therefore, to understand the attitude of 

 the white-robed figures who crouched immobile round 

 one end of the long room. They felt that they were 

 defending not only their jealously hidden country but 

 their religion from the strangers whom they hated and 

 feared. In their hearts they could not believe that the 

 greatly revered Sayeds had authorised our journey. 

 Continual distrust and suspicion are bad daily com- 

 panions. They had marred and lined the brooding faces 

 round us till there was little left of the frank, fearless 

 Beduin. On one side sat Hamid Bu Korayim, son of 

 the man who had saved Rohlfs, his dark, narrow face set 

 in mute obstinacy. In front of us was Sheikh Suleiman 

 Bu Matar, the only spot of colour in the group, for he 

 wore a brilliant orange robe under his jerd, and Bush 

 Naf el Ghadad, an old man with a grey beard who 

 occasionally poured a little oil on the troubled waters. 

 Others present were Sheikh Badr and Mabruk Bu 

 Helayig. 



