256 THE GUHAYNA GROUP iiL2.xvii.

(/) dAr hAmid XVII Until the latter part of the Turkish period this tribe was almost entirely nomadic and to a certain degree it is so still. For several generations past a portion of it has been with the Kababish of Dongola and a yet larger section with the western Kawahla, who until the " Mahdta" were incorporated as a subtribe with the Kaba-BfsH of Kordofan. Both of these outlying Dar Hamid groups remain entirely nomadic.

The remainder of the tribe has built many villages of straw *'tiikls" in the well-wooded, fertile and undulating district which marches to the north with the high, rough country of the Kababish, and many of them reside there all the year round cultivating " dukhn " or grazing according to the season; but in the " Kharif" a large proportion of the tribe take their coarse woollen tents and move some distance northwards and westwards like the true nomads until the rainwater has dried up and they have to return to the villages in and around the " Khayrdn." The nomadic character of the tribe made it easy in the last century for various Danagla and others to acquire possession of many of the basins of the " Khayrdn" which are cultivable by " shaduf" and '' sdkia." The Dar Hamid having no interest in or knowledge of artificial irrigation only used the wells in the *' Khayrdn" for watering their flocks, and were content to let others grow vegetables. In addition the Danagla were special proteges of the Turks and always sure of support if any attempt was made to oust them.

It is hard to say at what period the Dar Hamid took up their abode in central Kordofan. It may have been in the first half of the sixteenth century, or it may have been earlier, at the time of the great southern movement of the Guhayna tribes through Dongola.

Their ancestor Hamid "el Khuayn" lived, according to their "7iisbas" from eleven to thirteen generations ago. He and his brother Hammad, it is said, came from Egypt and pushed through to Darfur, and their descendants took up their abode partly in Darfur and partly in Kordofan.

XVIII The main divisions of the tribe are the Ferahna, the HababIn, the Meramra, the Nawahia, the 'Arifia, the Awlad Akoi, the Meganin and the Gilaydat; and the parentage attributed to some of these by tradition throws some light on the early connections of the tribe. The mother of the first two is said to have been from Gebel The commonest camel-brands of the Dar Hamid Kawdhla are the same as those of certain of the Meganin branch of Dar Hamid.