The Tahari

An old blog post I wrote back in July 2007, but it is still true and shows many things about our Desert

Just a few special things about the Tahari Desert…. mostly from the 1st Novel, Tribesmen of Gor…

Tribes
ARETAI
War Cry “Aretai Victorious”
Vassal Tribes:
Arani / Luraz / Ravei / Tajuks / Tahsid / Zevar / Ti

KAVAR
(mark is a blue scimitar facing outward from the body on the left forearm)
War Cry “Kavar’s Supreme”
Vassal Tribes:
Ta`Kara / Bakahs / Char / Kashnari

Weapons
Sleeve dagger
Scimitar

Sharing of salt “Let there be salt between Us”
Salt is placed on the back of ones wrist and is offered to another who takes it off with his tongue. This gesture is the reciprocated”We have shared salt” is then said and echoed

Sharing of Water
Whether taken or given makes one a guest

Common used sayings in the Tahari
“May your eye be keen, your steel swift”
“More real than the law, is the heart”
“The desert is my mother and my father”

Clothing of the Tahari
Head scarf/Wrapped Turban wound around the head, repcloth worn by lower class males, acts as a cushion for carrying burdens on the head
Djellaba (Men) Striped,hooded loose robe
Burnoose (Men) sleeveless,hooded desert cloaks, Preferred by those wielding scimitars
Kaffiyeh and Agal (Men)
Gowns (FreeWomen)
Cloak and Veils (FreeWomen)
Haik (FreeWomen/slaves) Black, covers a woman from head to toe.At the eyes there is a tiny bit of black lace so that she may see. Soft black, non-heeled slippers with curled toes decorated with a line of silver thread are worn on the feet.Slaves are naked beneath a haik save for their collar and brand
Skirts (FreeWomen)
Skirts, Blouse, Jacket, Slippers (slave)
Chalwar(slaves) diaphanous trousers gathered at the ankles worn with a sash and a silk vest showing a bare midriff, a slave veil is also worn
Slave Veils
Slave djellaba made of rep-cloth, cut high on the thighs, used for sleeping

Additional accessories
Walking chain (FreeWomen and slaves) used to measure stride (a measured gait is considered attractive in the Tahari)
Virgin Bell worn around the ankle of Free Girls to signal their availability as Companions
Ear Rings (slave)
Bangles (slave)
Dancing Chains (slave)

Various
Hakim of Tor = Tarl Cabot
Shelter Trench: 5′ deep 18″ wide used to take shelter from desert storms and heat
Tents: are pitched with the opening to the east so that the morning sun may warm them, they contain various rugs for comfort and a “submission mat” which is a very coarse matting
Musical Instruments: Drum, Kaska and Flute finger cymbals are worn by dance slaves
Language: is Gorean however the Taharic alphabet is used

Cities/Oases/Geographic
Tor lies at the northwest corner of the Tahari. Supply point for Oases
Teehra district southwest of Tor
Kasra River port at the junction of the Upper and Lower Fayeen (exports red salt)
Turia South of the Tahari - Sweet Turian wines, and silks
Oasis of Nine Wells (Aretai)
Ubar - Sulieman- Master of 1000 lances. High Pasha of the Aretai
Oasis of Farad
Oasis of Lame Kaiila
Oasis of Two Scimitars (Bakah)
Oasis of the Sand Sleen
Turmas Turian outpost and trading station
Oasis of the Battle of Red Rock(Tashid)
Kasbah of Tarna
Kasbah of the Guard of the Dunes Kasbah of the Salt Ubar Ibn Saran(Abdul)
Klima Salt Mines/Brine Pits
Oasis of Four Palms (Kavar)

Common Meals
Verr meat cut into chunks threaded on metal rods with slices of peppers and larma then roasted
Vulo stew with raisins,nuts, onions and honey
Kort with melted cheese and nutmeg

Transportation
Sand Kaiila a desert mutation of equitorial stock. Lofty, Proud, silken, long- necked, smooth gaited, triple lidded20-22hands at the shoulder
Kurdah Open fronted, half globe, frame structure made of tem-wood and curtained. Carried by pack kaiila for transport of women, free and slave

Various
Cooking “boards of metal” are placed over rocks, 2′ in length and exposed to the sun. Are used by nomad women for frying
Mats: used for sitting on or as screens
Slave kennels are called Seraglio
Games: Zar is a strategy game played with pebbles
Birds: Zad and Zadit
The Tahari Ring: given to Hakim by a Kur provides invisibility, gold with a silver square in the center. Too large for a man’s finger

The greatest crime in the Tahari is to destroy a well