# Auda abu Tayi — Seven Pillars of Wisdom character guide > Auda abu Tayi in Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Auda, old Auda, the abu Tayi **First appearance:** 0045-book-iv-extending-to-akaba ## Snapshot A Howeitat chieftain of legendary ferocity whose pride is as dangerous as his sword, and whose loyalty must be handled like a loaded rifle. ## Who they are Auda is the revolt's most feared tribal commander, a man whose name alone can bring Howeitat riders to the charge, but whose sense of honor is so raw that a single recalled gibe can drive him bitter from Feisal's tent. He measures himself against every other leader, resents slights real and imagined, and yet delivers the plateau at Aba el Lissan when shamed into it. His volatility is the campaign's constant risk and its occasional decisive weapon. ## In the story ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxvi) Corrects Lawrence's description of the army, calling it 'a world which is moving on Wejh.' ### [The Gathering at Wejh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxx) Sends his cousin ibn Zaal to Wejh with a message of allegiance; Lawrence and Feisal seek his active support for the Akaba campaign. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxxviii) Arrives dramatically at Wejh; smashes his Turkish false teeth; key ally for the Akaba campaign. ### [Book IV: Extending to Akaba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/book-iv-extending-to-akaba) His adherence to Feisal enables the plan to recruit tribesmen for the surprise attack on Akaba. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxxix) Travels with the party, regulating the marches and enforcing discipline. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xl) Guides the party through the night with his chanting; a child of battle who has never known a master. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xli) Leads the party through the desert with unmatched road-sense, wearing his Wejh-bought finery. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xlii) Delighted by dynamite, composes poetry; guides the march and names the landscape. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xliii) Leads the hunting and navigation, grumbling about the Nefudh and the camels. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xliv) Returns with two men to look for Lawrence; jokes about Gasim's worth, embodying Beduin honor. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xlv) Leader of the Howeitat; calls Zaal to scout and plans to ride to Nuri Shaalan for negotiations. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xlvi) Departs with gold to gather the Abu Tayi; his name is inscribed on the communal food bowl. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xlvii) Returns from Nuri Shaalan with support, hosts the party, and uses a camel-stick to scratch his itch. ### [Nebk: Strategy and Deception](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xlviii) Auda hosts a farewell feast and tells a humorous invented story about Mohammed el Dheilan's pearl necklace. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xlix) Rides beside Nasir; discusses telescopes and stars; laments his son Annad's death at Bair; discovers well damage and attributes it to Jazi work. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/l) Referenced as Zaal's deputy and a famous fighter; his authority underpins Zaal's control over the men. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lii) Auda sat up and talked like a river, telling stories; Lawrence reproved him for talking too much. ### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/liii) Exhilarated by battle, shows his superstition with an amulet Koran, and helps maintain discipline. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/liv) Insists the army move after the battle due to superstition and fear of enemy reinforcements or rival clans. ### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lv) Planned to return to Guweira to secure the northern approaches to Akaba. ### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lvii) Suspected of treachery with the Turks; explains it as a ruse to rob the enemy; accepts Lawrence's advance payment. ### [LXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxi) Ambitious leader of the Howeitat, seeking to assert control over smaller sections; engages in a philosophical debate with Lawrence. ### [LXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxii) Referenced as the focus of local clans' jealousy and suspicion. ### [LXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxiv) Referenced indirectly through Zaal's closeness to him; his clan the Howeitat are part of the party. ### [LXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxii) Hosts Lawrence and others at his camp; drops tents and prepares for a false alarm of a Turkish attack. ### [LXXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxxi) Lawrence stops at Auda's camp for a greeting and dates, but Auda cannot provide relay camels. ### [LXXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxxiv) Rode out alone to intimidate the villagers of Tafileh; later sent back to the desert by Zeid. ### [XCIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xciv) Denies Nuri's complaint that the Abu Tayi did nothing; bitter after Lawrence recalls the gibe at Aba el Lissan. ### [XCVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xcvi) Present with Lawrence near the valley during the aerial bombing. ### [XCIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xcix) Not directly present but referenced through the Howeitat tribesmen in the region. ### [CII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/cii) Mentioned as the kinsman of Alwain, whose tent is near Bair. ### [CXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/cxvi) Boasts of capturing el Ghazale by storm, taking prisoners and a train. ### [CXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/cxvii) Rides with the advancing forces before the attack on the Turkish column near Tafas. ### [CXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/cxviii) Sets an ambush behind Jebel Mania; engages in the final battle against the Turks. ### [CXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/cxix) Engages in a violent confrontation with Sultan el Atrash, restrained by Lawrence and others. ### [CXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/cxx) Restrains Abd el Kader when he draws a dagger, showing his fierce loyalty. ### [Portraits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/portraits) Portrait by Kennington. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) Depicted in a portrait by Kennington. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/characters/auda_abu_tayi - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/characters