DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49270#0048
28
SiwAN Customs
Beduin origin. To the Arab the Siwan is a stupid, vindictive, and treacherous person, ignorant of religion, morals,
and good faith.
It cannot be denied that there is a certain justification for this view, though the morals of the Beduin hardly
warrant their sitting in judgment even upon so depraved and barbarous a population as that of the Oasis. One of
the most marked traits in the Siwan character is vindictiveness: a failing well illustrated by an incident which had
happened shortly before I visited the Oasis in 1910. A young Siwan, while on a journey, had had a wordy quarrel
with an Arab at Marsa Matrhh. No blows had been exchanged, but the Siwan had been badly worsted by the Arab
in a lively exchange of abuse. Two years later the Arab came to Siwah, where the man with whom he had quarreled
recognized him in the date market. The Siwan asked him if he remembered him. The Arab answered that he did not.
“But I remember you, you son of a dog”, cried the Siwan, “you are. So-and-so, the son of Such-an-one, may God con-
sume him: and two years ago you cursed me at Matrhh”— and on the word he slashed the Arab across the neck with
his bill-hook and killed him on the spot. The one praiseworthy trait in the Siwan character is industriousness: the
men, despite their vices, are really hard workers, and labor in their gardens from before sunrise till nightfall with only
a short break at midday.
SiwAN Customs
Beduin origin. To the Arab the Siwan is a stupid, vindictive, and treacherous person, ignorant of religion, morals,
and good faith.
It cannot be denied that there is a certain justification for this view, though the morals of the Beduin hardly
warrant their sitting in judgment even upon so depraved and barbarous a population as that of the Oasis. One of
the most marked traits in the Siwan character is vindictiveness: a failing well illustrated by an incident which had
happened shortly before I visited the Oasis in 1910. A young Siwan, while on a journey, had had a wordy quarrel
with an Arab at Marsa Matrhh. No blows had been exchanged, but the Siwan had been badly worsted by the Arab
in a lively exchange of abuse. Two years later the Arab came to Siwah, where the man with whom he had quarreled
recognized him in the date market. The Siwan asked him if he remembered him. The Arab answered that he did not.
“But I remember you, you son of a dog”, cried the Siwan, “you are. So-and-so, the son of Such-an-one, may God con-
sume him: and two years ago you cursed me at Matrhh”— and on the word he slashed the Arab across the neck with
his bill-hook and killed him on the spot. The one praiseworthy trait in the Siwan character is industriousness: the
men, despite their vices, are really hard workers, and labor in their gardens from before sunrise till nightfall with only
a short break at midday.