Rif Painting Guide

 

Hair: Usually brown/black but a quarter of the population has red or blond hair. Most men shaved their heads or wore it in a long scalp lock.

Eyes: Mostly brown but the red and blond haired individuals may have blue or green eyes.

Turbans: White - may be combined with white scull cap.

Hats: Made of bulrushes or alfalfa, natural straw coloured often decorated with multicoloured pom-poms and embroidered stripes or patterns in wool.

Scarves: White.

Shawls: White.

Breeches: White, although blue are recorded.

Shirt: White although yellow is also recorded.

Sashes: Commonly red, blue or green.

Cloaks: White or grey may have also been other colours.

Chilaba (poncho): Usually brown, but also grey, black, cinnamon or yellow brown. Often stripped in tribal patterns, usually an off white on the darker background. Sometimes they are off white with darker stripes. Photographs show what looks like lighter coloured chilaba worn under the darker examples.

Shoes: Natural leather or bright yellow. Also red.

Bags: Natural leather sometimes decorated with coloured stripes/patterns.

Walking Sticks: Polished wood.

Regulars

These wore the usual tribal dress described as above; however different coloured turbans were issued to some units:

Abd-el-Krim Bodyguard: Orange and green felt turbans.

Artillery and Machinegun Corps: Black turbans.

Regulars: Green turbans with a red triangle on the right-hand side. Also each man had an individual number stitched to his turban.

Rank Insignia:

Leaders of 300-500, caid el tabor three red cords around his turban.

Leaders of 100, caid el mia two red cords.

Leaders of 50, caid el hamsain one red cord.

Leaders of 25, caid el hamsain-u-ashreen half a cord.

Abd -el-Krims Flag: (Flown at his headquarters, flags were not carried by the regulars in the field.)  Red background with a white diamond towards the outer edge. Green crescent moon and green six pointed Star of David within the diamond. Staff topped with metal crescent finial.