'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎811] (866/1050)

ifen
KsJs'
HEJAZ
811
Terabin, Ma'za, and Tiyahah. Whether or no this be the true explanation of the relation
between the Atiyah and the Huweitat, it is certain that their connexion is exceedi ngly
close. The two tribes camp in each other's country, and aid each other against common
enemies.
The 'Atiyah occupy the northern half of the 'Aweiridh Harrah, and are separated
from the Moahib Harrah by the hollow plain of the Jau, through which there is a road
from Wejh to Tebiik. The Jau is reckoned to be the dividing line between the Ahl es-
Shimal and the Ahl Qibli, the northern and the southern Arabs. The 'Atiyah are held
responsible for the Hejaz line from Ma" an to Dlr el-Hamrah. The coast from Sheikh
'Antar up to the Gulf of Akaba is in their hands in conjunction with the Huweitat, as
well as the high barren hills between the Harrah and the sea. Their rugged mountain
district is unsuitable for camel-breeding. Of the ,sub-tribes, the Sidenyin and the
Khutheirah inhabit the Harrat Aweiridh, the Sidenyin being at the northern end with
the Subut to the west of them. The Ageilab used to be carriers of goods between Ma" an
and Tebuk; but the railway must have taken some of their trade.
The 'Atiyah are stout in arms. Their foes are the Shammar and the allies of Shammar,
the Fuqara, and Wulud Suleiman. With the Fuqura, the 'Ativah maintain an inex
tinguishable feud. They rid the Harb and the central clans of the Huteim.
Their paramount chief is Mohammed ibn 'Atiyah.
3.—M oahib.
The plain of the Jau running through the Harrat 'Aweiridh is counted the frontier
between the Ahl esh-Shimal and the Ahl Qibli. To the north lie the Beni 'Atiyah, ta
the south the Moahib, who, though they are of 'Anazah descent, being a tribe of the
Sba', are Billi by adoption. The Billi and their southern neighbours, the Juheinah, are
both of the Himyar stock, and therefore rightly described as Ahl Qibli. The Moahib
inhabit the southern part of the 'Aweiridh, a rugged mass of volcanic rock upon a plat
form of sandstone. They are sheep-breeders, and are reduced to small numbers, though
they were once powerful enough to drive the Beni Sakhr from the 'Aweiridh. Scattered
clans are to be found among their kinsmen the Sba', and with the Beni Sakhr in the
Belqa. There is besides an ancient colony of Moahib husbandmen, keepers of cattle,
in the Hasa, Their dira marches with the Hejaz line from a.little above El-Akhdar to
Meda'in ; in the west they go down to the country of the Sehammah, a clan of the Billi,
and in summer the Sehammah come up with their flocks into the harrah.
4.—B illi.
The Billi are an old tribe of the Tihamah, whose range extends from Na'man Island
to Ras Qarqumah (including Hejh) and inland up to the Hejaz railway, a short s ction
of which they are charged to guard. Part of the tribe cultivates land in the neighbour
hood of Wejh, and carries rice and other commodities for the Wejh merchants to and
from Medina and the Hejaz railway. It lives on friendly terms with the Juheinah, but
at enmity with its inland neighbours the Fuqara and the Wulud Suleiman. Offshoots
of the tribe are found in Sinai, and also in Upper Egypt at Baliana.
The Billi in Hejaz number about 600 nomad tents, say 5,000 souls. Their paramount
chief, Suleiman Ibn Rufadah, resides at Wejh and is, with his tribe, to some extent,
under the thumb of the Turkish Government; but his sympathies are with the Sherif
and anti-Turk. There are said to be some thirteen sub-tribes ; but none is an important
unit apart from the whole.
5.—J uheinah.
The Juheinah resemble closely the Billi, lead the same partly settled life, %nd have
the same friends and enemies and the same political sympathies. They are, however,
somewhat more warlike a-.d given to plundering perhaps because the Yambo'-Medina
road offers them more tempting opportunities than the tracks from Wejh. Being also
more concentrated, they are better able to take common action. Their range, along
this coast, is from Ras Qarqumah to a little south of Yambo', and inland up to the Hejaz
railway.
They number about 500 nomad tents, say 4,000 souls. Their former paramount
Sheikh, Sherif Ali Ibn Abdullah, of the Erfu'a sub-tribe, lives at Yambo en-Nakhl. He wa^
displaced in 1914 by Sherif Mohammed Ali Bedeiwi, who has the title Emir and a monthly
5 m2
'
mmmm