Alexandria

Alexandria is a large Egyptian city where the author spends some time before she goes to the Western Desert where the Awlad 'Ali live.

Western Desert

The Western Desert is a desert west of Cairo and east of the Libyan border where many Bedouins live. The Western Desert gets about 2" of rain each year, and the vegetation is low and scrubby.

Marsa Matruh

Marsa Matruh is the biggest city in the Western Desert. Most of the Awlad 'Ali men have traveled to Marsa Matruh.

Tents

Although most Bedouins now live in houses, tents still are very visible and much used in Bedouin culture. In former times, the placement of tent stakes helped outsiders to know the hierarchy of the family.

Veils

Married women wear veils most of the time. The way in which a woman wears her veil shows her modesty and level of comfort with those...