1893.] H. S. Jarrett — Customs among the Bedouins of the Haitrdn. 87 



On. arrival at the house of the deceased, all the animals that have 

 been brought are killed, even to the very last, and are served up to the 

 mourners upon dishes of burghul over which the butter flows liquid as 

 water and the mode of eating is by pressing the food into balls, as is 

 the custom on festive occasions. Another of their customs is that the 

 women who are blood-relations of the deceased, such as his sister, his 

 daughter, his wife or the wives of his brothers and uncles, tear their 

 cheeks with their nails till the blood flows and rend their garments and 

 throw dust upon their heads. Another custom is to let their hair loose 

 over the face and shoulders. After the lapse of six months, the men 

 and women of the tribe assemble at the house of the deceased and 

 mourn for him during the day, at the close of which they visit the grave, 

 and this ceremony is also performed on the anniversary of the death. 

 The animals slaughtered after the interment of the deceased are called 

 "a solace to the deceased." 



Hostile Incursions. 



By the word ghazio is signified the hostilities of Arab tribes against 

 each other. When one tribe intends a foray against another, iihe 

 Shaykh of the tribe warns the whole of his clansmen three days 

 previous to the expedition. Upon this their leaders meet at the 

 Shaykh's house, who, after performing the duties of hospitable entertain- 

 ment and furnishing the horses with provender, thus addresses them, — 

 " O chiefs of the Arabs, I have certain information that such and such 

 a tribe of Arabs is encamped at a certain spot, and their gathering is 

 extremely small and we mean to attack them after three days. There- 

 fore warn your people to be in readiness, and at the appointed time let 

 the horse assemble in such and such a district, and at such and such a 

 spot." 



Thereupon the leaders quit their chief, each one departing to his 

 own party, and when they reach their tents, each of them assembles 

 his men and entertains them and after the entertainment he addresses 

 them as follows : — " "We intend to attack such and such a tribe, at such 

 and such a spot, on a certain day, and all the horsemen must be there 

 assembled." The men then severally depart to their tents and every 

 horseman must provide the requisites for the march in food and water 

 for himself and his horse and the needf ul amount of barley for his horse, 

 and on the appointed day, the horse assemble in one body, every horse- 

 man having his things laden on a camel and each camel led by a picked 



is unknown to me in this sense, though Kaud f ^jji ) and Kddat have the moan- 

 ing of a present or contribution of horses or camels, eithor as gifts or in token of 

 vassalage. 



J. in. 12 



