ABSTRACT
Every year towards the end of summer, members of each of the Bedouin tribes in South Sinai congregate at a saint's tomb in their tribal territory. There are about 20 well-known saints' tombs in the southern half of the peninsula, all located at major crossroads and not far from water sources. Some are found close to centers of population, while others are far from habitation. Throughout the year, individual Bedouin visit tombs in various parts of South Sinai, to request various saints to intercede with God (Fig. 3.1) for location of sites mentioned in the text). At some of these tombs annual tribal gatherings take place. I intend to look closely at the annual pilgrimages of three tribes: the Muzenah, who meet for three consecutive days and make the round of three holy tombs; from the tomb of their founding ancestor Faraj, they move to that of the prophet (nabi) Saleh, and thence to the tomb of Nabi Harun (identified with Aaron, the brother of Moses); the Awlad Sa'id, who gather once a year at the tomb of 'Ali Abu Taleb, the fourth Khalif; and the Jebaliyah, sections of whom gather on separate occasions at the tomb of Sheikh Awad, a holy man whose antecedents are unclear, but may have been a member of the tribe.
