Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/163

 THE BEHBEBS AND ABABS. 188 mukc a notch in the stock of their guns for every enemy they had killed, and these weapons are still to be seen covered with notches from the butt-end to the very mu/zle of the barrel. The Ilanenshas of Kalaa-es-Senam, entrenched within their upland stronghold, held the Bey's soldiers in such contempt that, when advancing to collect the taxes, the troops were often received with the present of a dead dog, accompanied by derisive cheers and cries of " There is our tribute to your sove- reign." The Ilamamma, who roam over the steppes in the vicinity of Gafsa, claim to bo faithful subjects of the Bey, mainly, however, because they can thus rob with the greater impunity. Every male of this tribe is taken by his father, the very day of his birth, placed upon a horse already caparisoned, and welcomed with the following traditional words : " Saddle and bridle, and life on Islam." That is to say, that the child's only inheritance would be a horse and weapons, and that it would be his duty to earn his daily bread by plundering his ^lussulman brethren, inhabitants of the vast Mohammedan world. At the present time the sons of these bandits, finding it no longer profitable to gain their living by plunder, emigrate to the cities, more especially to Bone and Tunis, where they are employed chiefly as porters. Travellers crossing the Urgbamma territory are often surprised to meet members of this tribe familiar with the French language. These are emigrants who have become rich and returned to their native land. Till recently, before the occupation of the country by the French troops had jwwerfully modified the internal relations, the whole of the Tunisian tribes as well as the other communities, were split up into two «o/', or hostile leagues, which frequently changed sides according to the assessment of the taxes or the exactions of the cadis. One of these two great parties, that of the Ahsimiya, claimed to be that of the Bey. In Central Tunis this faction was more especially represented by the great Hamamma tribe, whilst the Beni-Zid were at the head of the Bashiya.s, or the party of the independent Arabs. They claim to be the descendants of a French renegade, and on this ground they welcome<l the (?xplorer Pellissier, giving him the title of "cousin." The Ulad-Ayars of the Kef district, the Zlaa of Kairwan, the Nefets of Bu-IIedma, the Urghammas, and the Akkaras of the Tripolitan frontier, were the allies of the Iliunmainas, whilst the Metalits of Sfakes the Suas of Susa, the Majers, the Frashish of the Algerian frontier, and the Hazems of Cabcs, were numlwrcd amongst those Be<luins who recognise no masters. Some years ago, by a skilful stratagem, the Beni-Zid obtained possession of the Kasbah of Sfakes, and did not evacuate it till they liberated all the prisoners of their faction whom the Bey's government had imprisoned in this citadel. The Mahadebas of the coast, between Sfakes and the Syrtis Minor, are respected by all alike as a tribe of Marabuts or priests. The Bey has exempted them from all taxes, on the condition that they afford protection and hospitality to the cara- vans. The Nefzawa, who occupy the peninsula of the same name between the Shott-el-Jerid and the Shott-el-Fejoj, are divided between two hostile fac- tions. The tribes composing the independent party attempted to resist the French, but after a few desultory skirmishes they fled into Tripolitan territory. These fugitives, estimated at more than thirty thousand, found it extremely