TRIBES OF THE TAHARI
There are two major tribes of the Tahari mentioned in the books, the Aretai and the Kavars. These appear to be the only two major tribes. All of the other tribes appear to be either vassals of these two tribes or small, independent tribes. A vassal tribes is a military unit subordinate to the conquering tribe. When an enemy is conquered, it will then become an ally. The conqueror, by his might, cunning and victory, has won by right the enemy to his cause. This leads to pacification of great sections of the Tahari.
Aretai (Arani, Luraz, Raviri, Tashid, Ti, Zevar)
The Aretai are led by Suleiman, the Ubar of the Oasis of Nine Wells, master of a thousand lances, and high pasha of the Aretai.
The Aretai tribe wear a red-bordered burnoose, black kaffiyeh and white agal.
The minor vassal tribes of the Aretai include the Raviri, Tashid, and Luraz tribes. Though the Tashids are a vassal tribe they are almost completely autonomous. They make some token tributes to the Aretai but it is more a military alliance.
Four other minor tribes allied with the Aretai are the Ti, Zevar, Arani and Tajuks.
"To my right were the lines of the Aretai. The Aretai themselves, of course, with black kaffiyeh and white agal cording, held their center. Their right flank was held by the Luraz and the Tashid. Their left flank was held by the Raviri, and four minor tribes, the Ti, the Zevar, the Arani and the Tajuks. ~Tribesman of Gor
Kavars (Bakahs, Char, Kashani, Ta'kara)
The Kavars are led by Haroun, their high pasha. Haroun's vizier is Baram, Sheik of Bezhad. Their vassal tribes include the Ta'Kara, Bakahs (purple is their color), Char (red is their color), and the Kashani (yellow is their color).
In the Kavars, when a boy reaches puberty, they have their left forearm tattooed with a blue scimitar. The point of the blade curves to the outside, thus toward their enemies.
Bakahs
"The oasis of Two Scimitars is an out-of-the-way oasis, under the hegemony of the Bakahs, which, for more than two hundred years, following their defeat in the Silk War of 8,110 C.A., has been a vassal tribe of the Kavars." ~Tribesman of Gor
Char
"This was an oasis of the Char, also a vassal tribe of the Kavars. Its name had been given to it centuries before, when thirsty men, who had moved at night on the desert, had come upon it, discovering it." ~Tribesman of Gor
Kashani
Ta'kara
“Kavars,” he said. “Tribesmen. And men of their vassal tribe, the Ta’Kara.” He looked at me closely. “There may soon be war,” he said. “Caravans will be few. Merchants will not care to risk their goods." ~Tribesman of Gor
Tajuk
The Tajuk tribe is not a vassal tribe of the Aretai though they ride with them. Over two hundred years ago, a wandering Tajuk was rescued in the desert by the Aretai. The Aretai treated him very well, giving him water and even a kaiila. Since that time, whenever the Aretai summon their vassal tribes, the Tajuks also come. As they are not true vassals, the Aretai have no right to summon them and never actually call them.
Commonly, an Aretai merchant will visit the tent of the Khan of the Tajuks. After somer trading and tea, he will mention that the Aretai are gathering for war. The Khan will ask him where and then the Tajuks will arrive there.
The Tajuks always hold the front lines of the Aretai left flank. They are a culturally united group but of mixed-races. Many of them have an epicanthic fold.
Tajuks are a touchy, arrogant, proud, generous, and capricious people. There are hard good feelings between the Tajuks and the Zevar and Arani tribes. This is because the Tajuks are not true vassals but have been given a prominent position on the left flank.
"The Tajuks are not actually a vassal tribe of the Aretai, though they ride with them. More than two hundred years ago a wandering Tajuk had been rescued in the desert by Aretai riders, who had treated him well, and had given him water and a kaiila. The man had found his way back to his own tents. Since that time the Tajuks had, whenever they heard the Aretai were gathering, and summoning tribes, come to ride with them. They had never been summoned by the Aretai, who had no right to do this, but they had never failed to come. ~Tribesman of Gor
The names of the tribal leaders do not figure into their war cries. It is the tribe, not the individual, that is significant. For example, the Aretai war cry is "Aretai victorious" and the Kavar war cry is "Kavars supreme."