Current Events
by Amy Austin
Saudi Arabia:
The Bedouins
...for Class Afloat News, March 17, 1997
Saudi Arabia, a Kingdom of over 865,000 miles on the Arabian Peninsula, contains the largest sand desert in the world, the Rub Al-Khali, which stretches for 250,000 square miles. The barren appearance of deserts leads many to believe they are lifeless, however, this is far from the case. Whenever rain does fall, wildflowers and grass quickly bloom. Also scrub and thorn brush that exist all year long provide shelter for insects, reptiles and mammals, such as gazelles, wildcats, and...humans.
For over a millennia nomadic people, called the Bedouins, have made their home in the harshest of deserts. Their migrations are based on the seasons, the availability of grazing for their herds (camels, horses, sheep and goats), and oases locations. Although many of these desert tribes still exist, their lives have changed greatly with modern technology. Instead of relying on horses and camels for transportation many Bedouins, now own pickup trucks or cars. New roads cross the desert making it easier for contact with cities for medical and educational purposes. Although the tribes enjoy a strong tradition of storytelling for entertainment, generators now power televisions and radios.
Their homes still remain relatively the same, however. The traditional tents are easy to erect and dismantle and have a strong resistance to various weather. Women weave black wool from Arabian goats into long strips to make the roof, which is supported by poles and secured to the ground with ropes. Loose stitches in the cloth provide ventilation, but swell when moistened to provide protection from rain. Brightly colored curtains are used to separate the tent into an area for company and another area for the family.
Bedouins are characterized as being very friendly and willing to provide for others, as they understand the impossibility of surviving alone in the desert. Any wanderer will find them happy to share their favorite dishes, such as kapsa (lamb and rice) and acida (dough rolled into a ball and dipped in melted butter).