ben-wezeet

Updated: June 24, 2025

I had to-day some talk about the two great political factions, the Ben-Wezeet and the Ben-Weleed, the Whigs and Tories of Ghadames, but pushed to such extremities of party spirit, as almost to be without the limits of humanity.

James Richardson - Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846

The Rais and myself, reside without the boundaries of their respective quarters, so that we can be visited by both parties, who often meet together accidentally in our houses. The Arab suburb is also neutral ground. Most of the poor strangers take up their residence here. The Ben-Wezeet have four streets and the Ben-Weleed three.

James Richardson - Travels in the Great Desert of Sahara, in the Years of 1845 and 1846