| Ball—Geography & Geology of South-Eastern Egypt. | PLATE XXVI. |
Photo-Metal-Process. Survey Dept. Cairo 1911. (60-190)
The Hamedorab state that much of the country included in the Egyptian administration as belonging to the Ashabab is really Hamedorab country; they claim the north limit of their tribal territory to commence at the mouth of Wadi Khoda on the coast (in latitude 23° 42′) and to pass north of Wadis Khoda, Shenshef, and Shut, thence southward passing west of Wadi Beida to Bir Meneiga.[144] This is of course contrary to the Ministerial Arrêté of 1902, and as Bramly Bey (The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Vol. I, p. 93) mentions that on the other hand the Ababda tribe assert that their country should rightly extend south of the administrative boundary, it is probable that the administrative frontier represents a fair division of the rival claims.
The Kurbeilab Boundary.—The Kurbeilab claim their eastern boundary to run as follows: From Bir Meneiga southward along the watershed of Gebel Gerf to near the Sherefa pass, thence south-eastward along the north side of Wadi Sherefa el Sharqi on to the small hill called Tibashoi Tomokolat, thence east-north-eastward to Gebel Hamra Dom. From Gebel Hamra Dom south-eastward to the hill of Osnei, thence southward to the hills of Ti Keferiai, thence to the pass of Bani Sana. From Bani Sana southward to Gebel Warabeit, thence along the east side of Wadi Dibir, along the north side of Wadi el Qurat, across Wadi Di-ib, and then southwards along the east side of Wadi Di-ib.
The Balgab Boundary.—The Balgab boundary coincides with the main watershed from the parallel of 22° northwards to Gebel Adar Qaqa, then passes between the drainages of Wadi Hasium and Wadi Soaorib to the hill called Kulet Tinasal. From Kulet Tinasal the boundary runs east-south-eastward across Wadi Soaorib, passing north of Wadi Dishlo; thence it turns south along the mountains separating the basin of Wadi Soaorib from that of Wadi Baueiwai, thence it passes south of the heads of Wadi Miatit, eastwards across Wadi Aqwem, along the north side of Wadi el Qurat, across Wadi Di-ib, and then southwards along the eastern side of Wadi Di-ib.
The Koatil Boundary.—The Koatil claim their boundary to run from the head of Wadi Diqdib, along the mountains forming the eastern side of the basin of Wadi Diqdib to a point just south of Bir Baaneit, thence eastward to Gebel Hamra Dom. From Hamra Dom, west-south-westward to Tibashoi Tomokolat, thence along the north side of Wadi Sherefa el Sharqi and along the mountains forming the west side of the basin of Wadi Diqdib up to the head of that wadi.
The Koatil further claim as their territory the upper portion of the basin of Wadi Medarai west of longitude 35° 18′.
The Koatil also own the well called Bir Um Rasein, though all the wadis in its neighbourhood belong to the Kurbeilab.
Overlapping of Claims.—When the boundaries of the different tribes as specified above are laid down on the map (see [Plate XXVI]), it is found that there are three tracts claimed by more than a single tribe. These three disputed areas are:—