Field Notes 3 / Bedouin family: Hajiya Family - semi-sedentary
Hajiya family members with Raid
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.