Huteimi
Encyclopedia
Huteimi or Hutaym is a name given to several unrelated Red Sea
coast-dwelling peoples, originally so by James Raymond Wellsted
during his travels in the Arabian Peninsula
. They are reported to be descendants of the Ichthyophagi
, or "Fish-Eater" peoples as recounted by Diodorus Siculus
, a Greek historian. It is unclear whether "Hutaym" refers to the same peoples as "Huteimi", because although they inhabit geographically similar areas, their lifestyles are profoundly different, as the Hutaym life is described by R. Khanam in his Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Middle-East and Central Asia as "raising exceptional breeds of camels, with exceptions being primarily ass nomads". It is possible that they do refer to similar peoples, but in different time periods.
area.
They are described by Wellsted to be "found on the Arabian and Nubia
n coasts," and that they are "cowardly in disposition, squalid and misshapen in form, and filthy in their habits". According to various accounts, they are further described as a race of fishermen, found in various parts of the Hejaz
, with "large encampments near Leyt to the southward of Jiddah".
The Huteimi were a nomadic people, resembling "the Bedouins of the Desert," according to Wellsted. He mentions the prophet Mohammed
, who, after seeking shelter near the shore, was "shocked and offended" by the presence of a dog being served at a Huteimi banquet. They primarily sustained themselves by fishing, although occasionally the peoples used their skill in sailing and knowledge of the cost to gather pearls and sell them at markets. The nomadic fisherman lifestyle is also evidenced by a mention in "The Land of Midian", by Sir Richard Francis Burton
. It is written that "The country belongs to Baliyy ... mixed with Karaizah-Hutaym. The fishermen complained that no fish was to be caught, and the strong tides ... had not broken most of the shells. The usual eight-ribbed turtle appears to be common." It is also written that "The Hutaym claim the lover and hero-poet Antar
as one of their despised tribe".
The Huteimi are described by James Wellsted to be "sharpened ... their eyes seated deeply in their head" with pronounced chins. He also observed that the Huteimi's hair was "permitted to grow to some length ... which is a "black to light red color".
The 1894 Encyclopedia Britannica mentions, in its article on Jiddah, that "Harb, Huteym and Zobeid [inhabiting the outskirts of the town] are engaged in camel transport, slave running, and mother of pearl fishery."
The First Encyclopedia of Islam 1913–1936, by E. J. Brills, mentions that the "Hutaim who live scattered in the Hidjaz and Nadjd
are not counted among the true Arabs. They are excellent huntsmen; their herds consist of small cattle; they often do smiths' work ... Ostriches are especially shot by the Hutaim and the Sulaib."
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
coast-dwelling peoples, originally so by James Raymond Wellsted
James Raymond Wellsted
James Raymond Wellsted was a lieutenant in the Indian navy who travelled extensively on the Arabian Peninsula in the 1830s.-Travels:...
during his travels in the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. They are reported to be descendants of the Ichthyophagi
Ichthyophagi
Ichthyophagi , the name given by ancient geographers to several coast-dwelling peoples in different parts of the world and ethnically unrelated....
, or "Fish-Eater" peoples as recounted by Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian who flourished between 60 and 30 BC. According to Diodorus' own work, he was born at Agyrium in Sicily . With one exception, antiquity affords no further information about Diodorus' life and doings beyond what is to be found in his own work, Bibliotheca...
, a Greek historian. It is unclear whether "Hutaym" refers to the same peoples as "Huteimi", because although they inhabit geographically similar areas, their lifestyles are profoundly different, as the Hutaym life is described by R. Khanam in his Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Middle-East and Central Asia as "raising exceptional breeds of camels, with exceptions being primarily ass nomads". It is possible that they do refer to similar peoples, but in different time periods.
Etymology
The origin of the name Huteimi is unclear, and several variants and alternate spellings exist, such as Huteim, Hutaym, Hutaim, Huteym, or Hootein. The Naval Intelligence Division's "Handbook of Arabia" mentions the name "Huteim" as "used roughly by the Arabs as a synonym for any base-born, half-settled tribe", and the name is often used alongside the Harb, a similar confederation of tribes in the HejazHejaz
al-Hejaz, also Hijaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined primarily by its western border on the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...
area.
Description
Descriptions of the Huteimi peoples remain scarce, and the name refers to a wide-ranging group of peoples which are generally said to occupy Nubia, Egypt and Arabia around the Red Sea, but information is often incomplete or contradictory.They are described by Wellsted to be "found on the Arabian and Nubia
Nubia
Nubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
n coasts," and that they are "cowardly in disposition, squalid and misshapen in form, and filthy in their habits". According to various accounts, they are further described as a race of fishermen, found in various parts of the Hejaz
Hejaz
al-Hejaz, also Hijaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined primarily by its western border on the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...
, with "large encampments near Leyt to the southward of Jiddah".
The Huteimi were a nomadic people, resembling "the Bedouins of the Desert," according to Wellsted. He mentions the prophet Mohammed
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, who, after seeking shelter near the shore, was "shocked and offended" by the presence of a dog being served at a Huteimi banquet. They primarily sustained themselves by fishing, although occasionally the peoples used their skill in sailing and knowledge of the cost to gather pearls and sell them at markets. The nomadic fisherman lifestyle is also evidenced by a mention in "The Land of Midian", by Sir Richard Francis Burton
Richard Francis Burton
Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS was a British geographer, explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia, Africa and the Americas as well as his...
. It is written that "The country belongs to Baliyy ... mixed with Karaizah-Hutaym. The fishermen complained that no fish was to be caught, and the strong tides ... had not broken most of the shells. The usual eight-ribbed turtle appears to be common." It is also written that "The Hutaym claim the lover and hero-poet Antar
Antarah ibn Shaddad
'Antarah Ibn Shaddād al-'Absī عنترة بن شداد العبسي was a pre-Islamic Arabian hero and poet famous both for his poetry and his adventurous life. What many consider his best or chief poem is contained in the Mu'allaqat...
as one of their despised tribe".
The Huteimi are described by James Wellsted to be "sharpened ... their eyes seated deeply in their head" with pronounced chins. He also observed that the Huteimi's hair was "permitted to grow to some length ... which is a "black to light red color".
The 1894 Encyclopedia Britannica mentions, in its article on Jiddah, that "Harb, Huteym and Zobeid [inhabiting the outskirts of the town] are engaged in camel transport, slave running, and mother of pearl fishery."
The First Encyclopedia of Islam 1913–1936, by E. J. Brills, mentions that the "Hutaim who live scattered in the Hidjaz and Nadjd
Najd
Najd or Nejd , literally Highland, is the central region of the Arabian Peninsula.-Boundaries :The Arabic word nejd literally means "upland" and was once applied to a variety of regions within the Arabian Peninsula...
are not counted among the true Arabs. They are excellent huntsmen; their herds consist of small cattle; they often do smiths' work ... Ostriches are especially shot by the Hutaim and the Sulaib."