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Field Notes 3 / Bedouin family: Hajiya
Family - semi-sedentary
 Migration
route: Came from Al Sultani Sad (dam) - stay there in winter and
spring - inherited land from father in Muhai where they grow
wheat and barley - it has been a bad year, so came to this area.
Found them between Muhai and Um Hamat Present
site: bought grazing rights to this land 25 dunum (2.5 hectares)
for 110 J.D. because it was too poor to be harvested (still
standing barley). Another family member paid 10 J.D. for field
of barley he could harvest. Herd size - 100 in
flock with 60 goats and 40 sheep (approximately 12 lambs over
three months old). Attitude - things are
getting worse - Why? - Allah wills it so but also because of no
rainfall. Raid explains to Bedouin human
effects of over grazing. Continuous cultivation of land for some
crops will affect soil if no crop rotation. Bedouin agreed
politely. There is limited land for grazing and land will be
over-used by a farmer. Raid explains the soil was depleted and
the land is getting worse and worse. A lot of soil erosion by
wind. Question by Raid, “Is soil better or worse than 15 years
ago.” Answer by Bedouin, “Much worse, 30-40 years ago was all
range land but farming began in these marginal areas of the
plateau only about 20 years ago.” (Of course, other parts of the
plateau have been farmed for thousands of years.)
Family: Father, mother (blinded in one eye), three sons (12, 18,
26) in camp (although has 7 children) and daughter in law from
son in army. Two children work for Christian companies and 2 in
army. Son had been in army, then worked short time for
Phosphorus company at Dead Sea but had not had work for 5 years
and so could not marry. Ask if he would be like father, said No,
no, no. Son knew a few English words. Children all go to school.
(Explanatory note by Raid: Farmers need more perennial crops,
more housing/building is causing land shortage on plateau, more
dependency on market by Bedouins, options are to quit or go to
feedlot situation, competition for meat from New Zealand and
Syrian sheep (imported meat). Furnishings and
other animals: donkey, dog, and 1/2 dozen chickens, (female
sheep with bag full wandered over to the tent and later goat
came over and stood around under the flap of the tent).
Tent split in half with one half, open
furnished with pads and mattress in U-shape and open to the
outside for visitors (public area). Given a stack of pillows
to recline on. Tent made from feed sacks and tarp on floor of
tent also feed sacks sewn together. Four center poles to tent.
Fed us jamid (dried sheep cheese) and wife showed us how to
make it. Took pictures of son doing it.
Family interaction: Father was very polite
and talkative with wife frequently interrupting him, daughter
in law stood in the background but came over after about 30
minutes and sat behind us on a milk can. The youngest son came
in from looking after the sheep. Soon the older son came over
and left the sheep by themselves. All of a sudden a grown son
showed up with a army cap and coat on. He asked Raid for I.D.
and Raid produced his I.D. card and drivers license. The son
carefully checked over the credentials and was satisfied.
Brought out tea and had glasses for everyone. I got out my
tablet and the father watched me write.
Father's story: His father died when he was
young and his uncle raised him. He worked for his uncle as a
shepherd and each year his uncle would give him 25 head. He
built his own herd in this manner but now none of his children
want to live the same lifestyle.
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