The Bedouin
Yet another culture associated with hospitality is found in
Egypt, but far from the big cities and the villages of the Nile
Valley. In the deserts live the Bedouin, Arabic-speaking pastoral
nomads who came to Egypt from the Arabian Peninsula many
centuries ago. They keep livestock—animals such as sheep,
goats, and camels that feed on pasture—and move about the
desert to find places where there has been rain and therefore
plants on which the animals can feed. Their way of life is thou-
sands of years old. It emerged in the Middle East not long after
people domesticated plants and animals and began farming.
The Bedouin livelihood can be difficult. Sometimes there are
long droughts that make it difficult to keep livestock healthy.
And sleeping out under the stars or in a wool tent, never hav-
ing a house or a village to call home, can be a challenge. There
are none of the modern conveniences of life, and there is no
medical care in the wilderness. But the Bedouins pride them-
selves on the freedom afforded by their migratory way of life.
Traditionally, they have not had to pay taxes,