Abu Laila: Buffalo Enclosure Makers

Date: 1951-58

Wilfred Thesiger (d. 2003) describes the construction of tent-shaped buffalo shelters (known in Arabic as sitra) made from bundles of reeds. The walls of these structures were strengthened with a mixture of mud and pounded hashish. These were exported on large sailing boats. See also: Reed House Builder; Coracle Maker; Brickmaker.

Citation: Wilfred Thesiger, The Marsh Arabs (London: The Folio Society, 2004. First edition: London: Longman, 1964), pp. 136-37. An illustration appears between pp. 142, 143 (image: 13561.1).

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