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The Kababish, a Sudan Arab tribe

175

bears 'utfa or tonkoh, is decked with gonagir, head-ornaments consisting of leather straps
with three raised cones, covered with cowries, with ostrich feathers projecting from the
centre of each cone. The afrdt are similar ornaments, two of which are borne by each
camel, one hanging from each side of the back of the sebria. The wasada is a long yellow
mat, narrow at the centre and broad at either end, from which hangs a fringe of leather
strips. It is ornamented with rings of white metal, usually cast from old tins. One is
carried at the back of the 'utfa and one on each side of the tonkoh. The rasn is the head-
rope, which is knotted round the camel’s head; one end of it forms the guiding rein.
The rasn of the litter-camels is made of plaited leather. To the end of it is attached a
strip of the same material ornamented with cowries, which passes round the camel’s head
below the ears and from which hangs a heavy fringe of very finely cut leather. The camel
that bears the 'utfa carries one pair of id el-faik,101 while that bearing the tonkoh has two
pairs. Each id el-faik is composed of three tassels; the fringes are similar to those of the
rasn and selil, the heads and straps are decorated with cowries. To each sebria is lashed
a vertical stick from which a flag or buraka (Egypt. Ar. bayrak} flies. This is long and
narrow, divided longitudinally, ornamented with bars of ostrich feathers, and bearing
long fringes.102
Besides all these trappings, on either side of the 'utfa are tied a number of vessels
of different shapes made of leather and basket-work and called the 'adad.103 * Some of
these are used, others are elaborate representations of objects in daily use. The 'adad
includes vessels called by the following names: 'umra, karoya, bot'a, and kabbota.Wi Large
wooden bowls called kudan, which are highly prized, are also carried on the 'utfa. The
camel bearing the tonkoh carries none of these, but it has more trappings, and it is notice-
able that its selil is far more ornate than that belonging to the 'utfa. Everything on the
camel bearing the tonkoh will become the property of the girl riding it, when she marries.
Indeed, of such importance are the valuables on the tonkoh that no girl could get married
until her mother had provided them for her.105
The photographs and descriptions refer to the 'utfa and tonkoh of Muhammad et-
Tom, brother of the Sheykh of the Kababish. It is probable that few other families except
101 aXD = “milk collected in the udder,” and doubtless refers to the shape of the tassels.
i’2 No importance was attached to the patterns on the flags, and though the idea that these might have once
represented tribal standards naturally suggested itself, no evidence for this could be found.
i“3 'adad means “ outfit ”, and probably applies to all the camel trappings as well as to the vessels enumerated here.
i°4 For description of the bot'a see page 176. We have written the names as we heard them, but have been unable
to discover their origin, and should be grateful for any information bearing on this. (The transliterations of the names
used as titles to the plates should, we may here observe, conform to those given in our text).
105 A rather poor Selil and a wasada are seen hanging at the back of the marriage tent (hegil), a photograph of
which is reproduced on pl. 3, fig. 3.
 
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