GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 15

the Soudan— which Gordon described as being "the pulse in the Arab body, the

centre so to speak of the Arab world"— still speak only Arabic. They have as a rule adheredto anomadic life,andproud of their descent and religion,have shunned any in- termingling with their Nubian neighbours. So far as regards the mere colour of the skin

there is not much difference betweenthe two races, but there all resemblance ends. The Arabs are of taller stature, and have hand- *\ somer features. Their foreheads are more prominent, and their mouthsbetter shaped. w. Theycultivate rather bushy beards, andhave « scanty lank insteadof thick curly hair. In the Nile valley and on the banks of the streams flowing from the Abyssinian /f mountains, several Arab tribes have settled jriJlv* down .1. agriculturists. Amongst these are JmS& the ersi warlike Shaiquies, who dwell on /RHw both sides of the Nile,. from Ambukol to Mm

■ iii<' Bajuda steppi and to some extent the 'fiBr.*-. Ababdeh who have their homes and pastur- vgffmml age between Assouan an.I the Bed Sea, in B^tffl! the hills of the Nile Valley, and in the W _ 7- Nubian desertbetweenKorosko and Berber. "^-3Bf ; The majority, however, with several Bedja .

*

tribes, are nomads, and are classed together --■"§8§§»;

as Bedouins. These dwellersin the desert, *"4f|fig5l7, though divided into numerous sub-tribes, "S3H1 '*'- have almost identical customs, and differ in TalR littlesave their dialectandmanner of wearing

their hair, which is a matter ofpride withall \..r'_jy of them. They are governed in true patri- """"■" archal fashion by their sheikhs,and though there is no individual ownershipof land, the territoriallimits of each tribe are well de- fined* encroachment onthe wells or pastures of a neighbour being a frequent source of feud. Their wealth consists of sheep, goats, and camels, those who inhabit the more favoured regions breeding horses and cattle as well. The necessity of finding fresh pasture obliges them to dwell in tents constructed of

BEDOUINS OF THE SOUDAN.

mats made from the plaited fibres of the innerbark of

the palm tree,or wovenof desert grasses.

One of themost importantnomadic tribesis that of the Bishari, Bishareen or Bisharaba, who are Bedjas or

SHEIKHS OF TRIBES OF THE EASTERN SOUDAN.