The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎366v] (85/232)

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THE OASES OF THE MUDIRIEH OF ASSYUT.
Ihe principal traffic passes along during the date season, which begins
in August and is practically over in January. During this period fel-
lahin go in parties of ten or twenty from most of the adjacent “ balads ”
(villages) in the Nile valley, to buy dates, which are exported princi
pally from Kharjah. These fellahin Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. are technically called “ saffarah,”
while the merchants visiting the oases are called “ Tujjar.” Arabs from
the west of the Nile valley go in small numbers to the oases as Guides
hirers of camels, or traders, but there is no general migration & of the
Arab tribes to the oases at any season. These Arabs have few camels
and are m process of settling down to the condition of fellahin Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. , the Bali
tribe being the one which retains its nomad habits the most. It is the
one which chiefly frequents Kharjah, while the Amaim go to both
oases. About twenty years ago the guarding of the roads was entrusted
to the various tribes, who then levied toll on each camel that passed
a ong them. This arrangement has been abolished, but the tribes have
not yet relinquished an idea of possession, and when a brigandage
occurs on any road, the tribe to which its guardianship used to beW
may be suspected. In addition to the Arab tribes of the adjacent pro"
vinces, the Eabayi, whose settlement is at Kardasah, in Gizeh come
down annually to Dakhilah via Farafrah. They arrive in August
bringing large numbers of camels, and returning by the Darb et T^wil’
to Assyut, and thence by the Nile valley to Gizeh.
A few words may now be devoted to the more special characteristics
OASIS OF KHAIiJAH.