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not stand up against the failure of the Turks to keep their engage
ments and our success in closing the ’Iraq markets. In 1917 he
joined the Turks on the Hajj Railway, but was treated with scant
courtesy. Thence he returned to Hail early in 1918. In the
summer he was attacked by Ibn Sa’ud, and was within an ace of
losing Hail, but the attack was not pressed. He came to terms
with Ibn Sa’ud and sent emissaries to the Sharif. He has made
various indirect overtures to the British Government since the
Annistice. Murdered 1920.
SA'DCN. ’ABDULLAH BEG IBN FALTH PASHA An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .—
Leader of the house of Nasir as opposed to that of Mansur which
is represented by ’Ajaimi Beg al Mansur. ’Abdullah styles him
self Amir al Muntafiq, and the majority of the Muntafiq look to him
as the hereditary and rightful Shaikh of the Muntafiq on account
of his being the grandson of Nasir Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the last great Shaikh of all
the Muntafiq Arabs. The minority look to ’Ajaimi Beg as their
present leader, but the latter cannot put forward anything like the
claims of ’Abdullah. Speaking generally ’Ajaimi considers himself
the head of the Muntafiq who reside on the right bank of the
Euphrates, and ’Abdullah leader of those between the Tigris and
Euphrates. ’Abdullah is a tall man of fine appearance. About
30 years old, good looking, simple-minded and cheerful. A good
example of the best type of Arab. Very proud of his sharaf,
declined a subsidy from the British Government when he made his
submission (February 1918). Remarkable for his personal genero
sity, and though his financial position was good before the war, he
now possesses nothing to speak of. One of the few Sa dun who
retain their hold over the affections of the tribesmen. A bitier
enemy of ’Ajaimi, not on good terms with Dhari Beg and Ibrahim
Beg, who fear ’Abdullah’s rise to power.
' ’Abdullah surrendered at Nasiriyah on its first capture in July.
1915, but smarting under a fancied grievance, he never came in to
us again, and throughout the summer of 1916 was in correspondence
both" with us and with the Turks. He lived alone on the Gharraf
river, and studiously avoided seeing both Turk and British.
His property at Ma’amir was sequestrated by us.
SA’DUN, AJAIMI IBN SA’DtJN.—
The most virile member of the Sa’dun family is undoubtedly
’Ajaimi ibn Sa’dun who seems to be endowed more than his fellows
with the primitive and restless instinct of the desert Arab. He is
renowned for his cruelty and faithlessness, but no less famous for
his personal bravery and resolution. He can be generous and genial
but he is very fickle. The present unpopularity of the Sa’dun
with the tribes is due largely to the lawless methods and brutality
of ’Ajaimi and his father.