Mabkhaut bin 'Arbain

Portrait of Mabkhaut bin Arbain, a tribesman of the Bayt Gidad lineage of Bayt Kathir Bedouin.Mabkhaut bin 'Arbain, a tribesman of the Bayt Gidad lineage of Bayt Kathir Bedouin, was known to Wilfred Thesiger only as Mabkhaut. He joined Thesiger's travelling party for three journeys between 1945 and 1947. Described by Wilfred Thesiger as good humoured, considerate and extremely quiet, Mabkhaut bin 'Arbain came to play an important role during Thesiger's First Crossing of the Empty Quarter. When the rest of the Bayt Kathir members of Thesiger's party turned back at Ramlat al Ghafah, Mabkhaut bin 'Arbain (along with Musallim bin Tafl) decided to risk the journey and continue on with Thesiger. Without this crucial support, Thesiger would not have been able to complete the crossing.

Photographs of Mabkhaut bin Arbain