I had nomads earlier on, tried to settle them on the desert land so I could grow some dates and spices. That plan failed as no sooner I build market place and a few houses they went mentally irregular (rocky 3) and started torchin each other houses.
Switched it off at that point...
when you take a gift to the orient bloke he gives you a boat with loads of materials on, use that to settle the southern islands as it gives you a bit of leeway before they start killing each other due to starvation. they dont eat fish, so get a date farm up asap.