TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

220 IMPROVEMENT 0' TROPIOAL AND SUBTROPICAL RANGELANDS
all, are poaible. If precipitation faila, the herder will move sreat
distance. to the very borders, or beyond the borders, of the tribal
territory. If rain is especially abundant near the nmmer sruing
areas or ifthe flock is composed ofanimals incapable ofwithstanding
the rigors of long-distance misration, the nomad may not move at
all. In general, however, aauming a year of averap rainfall, there
is a movement from the IUlDlD8r sruing areas on the flanks of the
surrounding ridge. into the htJmadu and reg. in the center. The
precise area selected for winter grazing may vary from year to year,
but the overall pattem of movement from IUlDlD8r wells to winter
pasture in the interior desert remains unchanged. The area selected
depend, on whether that sone has received IUflicient rainfall. 14 If110,
/riq. from different sections concentrate around the favored area.
In 1959, the most favored areas were around the wells of al­
Haiaina and Bou Ameima. Nevertheless, not all/",. went to the
summer pastures in YettL A close check ofthe number offri,. present
in the winter wadis (as shown in figure 1-1) indicates that nearly
half failed to leave their winter locations. Admittedly, 1959 was a
IIOmewhat humid year, thus making local resourcee more attractive
and perhaps reducing the desirability of moving. A1IIO, the poor
families, unwilling to face the potential risks involved in shifting their
flocks to relatively unfamiliar territory, perhaps remained behind,
while those possessing larger herds and greater ability to resist sudden
catastrophe risked the migration. This points out the variation in
pattemsofmovement that can befound within one tribe. The limited
circulation of the poorer In,. around permanent water supplies and
along the course of the wadi beds resembles the limited movement of
the Kel Tamuheq.
The greater part of the winter is spent gruing the reg and
htJmtJdtJ pastures until the wells, pools, and vegetation dry out and
a retum to the summer wells become. imperative. During the stay
at the winter pastures, the pastoral regime is complicated by the
fact that the Rigaibat Lqacem, except for a few eections that are
exclusively camel herders, own mixed herds ofcamels and sheep that
are herded separately during most ofthe year.16 The tents ofeachfri,
are pitched only a short distance apart and the milch camels, upon
which the herding unit depends for its basic subsistence, are allowed
to graze freely, under the care of the women, within a radius of three
to six miles of the camp. However, the baggage camels and surplus
female camels are placed under the care of the men and are herded
separately from the milking herd; often these herds, representing the