Walking across my roof leaning out & looking down 50ft sitting canal side on a handily positioned palm trunk, was Sabra 'village omda, he waved me down. duh? bas****d.......I mouthed.
So descending I grabbed him and me a drink then ascended back to the viewing platform.
I said, pointing to a relatively new mangrove orchard "Who's is that then ?
"Sheik Ali Hassan Jalaba.....
"Who he ?
Turns out the Sheik is the Omdha of the tribe where I live The Rabbat or even Rabbiat, he has 100 feddan plus he is the boss of the British built pumping station opposite. 'la whaala.
The Sheik, who has yet to have the pleasure of meeting me land's extend, from the cairo rd to and around the Ramessium, sort of.
Sabra, then points over to the Ramessium and states proudly 'that he has 2 Carat next to the Rest House under sugar cane, from previous family land share outs, he only divulges after a probing enquiry.
He hit me for a bit of 'bango, then off he trot.
Amazing what one learns, when one ask's the right questions.
I love-em, they never cease to amaze me......
Ps: one day I'll do a book on the 5 tribes of Gurna before their lost in the vagaries of time.
