Katul, Sheikh of the tribe, is by far the ablest man of the Aliab Sheikhs, or, in fact, of any other of the Bisharin Sheikhs.
Compensation for murder or wounds.The traditional “diia” or compensation for loss of life among these Arabs is: for a man, 50 male and 50 female camels; for women or children, or loss of legs, arms, eyes, 25 male and 25 female camels.
Wounds are assessed according to their gravity. The cause in which murders are committed, or a wound is received, is always taken into consideration.
The above amounts are the limit of compensation.
Wells.
The following is a list of Bisharin wells in the northern Atbai, showing the sub-tribe to which they belong:—
| Sub-tribe. | Name of Well. | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Um Ali. | ||
| Koatil | Terfaui | Water good—shared by Eireiab. |
| J. Mashushanai | Water in open basin, 12 feet deep—sweet but scarce (December, 1902). | |
| Umrasin | Not much water, and then only after rain. | |
| Hamedomerab | Meisa | Not open 1903. |
| Didaut | — | |
| Mallak | Eigat | Water never more than a few feet below surface—sometimes flowing. |
| Heilaigabeir | Well 10 feet deep—not much water, rather salt. | |
| Butna | Good water and plentiful. | |
| El Eifein | Good water, but supply does not last. | |
| Abu Dom | Slightly brackish—10 to 15 feet down, according to season. | |
| Um Gabrit | Good water—not visited. | |
| Abu Tabag | Stone lined well, 24 feet deep—water plentiful, but slightly brackish. | |
| Balgab | Legia | Good water and plentiful. |
| Is | Good water, 4 feet down. | |
| Kurbeilab | Neshd | Water good—camels cannot approach owing to rocks. |
| Kamotit | Water good. | |
| Homeitra | Water in tanks in mountain; also obtainable by digging at base. | |
| J. Abu Hodeid | Water plentiful—in spring and tanks. | |
| Um Beshtit | Not always water. | |
| Jugub | Rarely open, and not much water. | |
| Derbieib | Hole in side of hill—much water on surface. | |
| Nasari | 1 well, belongs to Amrab—good water, not visited. | |
| Feireida | Very small supply of good water. | |
| Miaus | Small supply of good water. | |
| Shinai | Much water, about 10 feet down. | |
| El Faui | Good water, and plentiful supply. | |
| Kajoj | Much water, near surface—salt. | |
| Gidimib | ? | |
| Madi | ? | |
| Adoloiab | Murrat | Best well is used by the Mining Co.—water very brackish and very aperient. If long stay to be made, water should be obtained from J. Rafit (10 miles). |
| Telat Abda | 2 wells of 15 feet deep—one brackish. In westerly well, water sweet but scarce. | |
| Abu Tabag | Stone lined well, 24 feet deep—water plentiful but slightly brackish. | |
| Naba | Also belongs to Eireiab—much water, 4 to 5 feet down, very salt. 3 wells about 8 miles apart in bed of wadi. | |
| Abaraga | Much water—slightly brackish, 10 feet down. | |
| Maietib | Much water, 15 feet down—brackish. | |
| Gogaieb | Not much water—very brackish, 8 feet down. | |
| Girid | Brackish water—rarely open. | |
| Shantirab | Selala | Well, 35 feet deep—stone lined, 9 feet of water, brackish (December, 1902). |
| Gunnub | Well, 25 feet deep—water sweet, but much polluted by animals (December, 1902). | |
| Murio | ? | |
| Hora | Well, 12 feet deep—good water and plentiful. | |
| Amrab | Labasoi | Bad water—only fit for camels and goats. |
| Sania | Bad water, but plentiful. | |
| Sohanit | Bad water, but drinkable. Better water from the tanks in neighbouring hills. | |
| Oni | Water plentiful and good from well, if open. Also from natural tank in rock. | |
| Beshbesh | Not always open—water good, 10 feet below the surface. | |
| Eiweb | Good water, and plentiful—8 feet down. | |
| Dilko | Rain water only—little. | |
| Nufrium | Good water, and plentiful—6 to 8 feet down. | |
| Nasari | Good water? | |
| Hamedorab | Oyia | Water near the surface, but not always in the same place (1903). |
| Meheiriga | Spring—water rather salt. | |
| J. Elba | Water plentiful, in springs or wells round its base. | |
| Halaib | Well, 15 feet deep, near Government Post—water brackish. | |
| Shellal | Well, 14 ft. deep—very brackish, better from natural tanks 300 feet? deep. | |
| (ii) Um Nagi. | ||
| Eireiab | Naba | Much water, 4 to 5 feet down—very salt. 3 wells about 8 miles apart in bottom of the wadi. |
| Nafab | El Dueim | Good water and plentiful—about 10 feet down. |
| Kamotit | Much water—brackish, 10 to 12 feet down. | |
| Kamoreib | Good water—plentiful, about 10 feet down. |
(d) Ababda.
The following brief account of the Ababda Arabs, whose country adjoins the Bisharin, is given here, as, although with the exception of the Meleikab section, they are under the Egyptian Administration, they are generally said to have sprung from the common ancestor Kahl (vide origin of Bisharin). Feuds, too, between these tribes, though now less frequent, were, until recently, of constant occurrence.
Limits. Three main-sub-tribes.The Ababda, who inhabit the Atbai from roughly north lat. 22° 30′, where they adjoin the Bisharin, to as far north as the Kena-Kosseir road, are divided into three main sections or sub-tribes, viz., Eshabab, Fogara, and Shanatir.