DBA Armies

This list covers the universally face-veiled and indigo-clad camel-riding nomads from deep in the Sahara desert of Africa until the introduction of rifles. It is uncertain when the culture developed, but 1000 AD is a reasonable estimate. They mainly fought each other, but armies of up to 12,000 camel men intervened in the western Sudan. A late description of a Tuareg attack described it as a “tidal wave of white camels” that still struck fear even in the days of machine guns. Tuareg riding camels are pale cream in colour, darker animals being used only for baggage and tourists. The Ihaggeren aristocrats raided, armed with the short all-iron “allarh” lance, a long straight sword and a long white hide shield, Imrad vassals without shields but with allarh or a quiver of javelins herded goats and camels or traded and Iklan negro serfs with javelins and dagger cultivated and smithed. Beside the Iklan, only tribes from the Hoggar mountains fought mainly on foot. Indigo dye produces a range of blue shades. Reference: African Arms and Armour C. Spring.