'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎240] (282/733)

MUSKAT.
Oman the religion is Mahomedan, the language Arabic.
Such a thing as caste, as known in India, does
Religion, Language, not ex i s t amongst the Arabs. The tribes in
Tribes, and Castes. Qman are various. In the African territories of
the Iraaum but little is known of the tribes; they are almost all pagans,
except those immediately on the Coast, the Sawheelies, who are many
of them Mahomedans, yel Africans.
The principal tribes in Oman are, east and south of Muskat, towards
the Hadhrai Maut,—the Hurth, 2,000, the Chiefs Shaikhs Nassir bin
Ali and Salah bin AH; the Massakeeah, 4,000, Chief Shaikh Saeed
bin'All al Mogeawee ; the Beni Boo Hassan, 1,500 to 2,000, prineipal
Shaikh Mahomed bin MasseUim ; the Hajneen, 1,000, Chief Shaikh
Mahomed bin Aamr; the Habbeas, 700, head Shaikh Aamr bin Eashid;
the Beni Rawaheeyah, 500, Chief Shaikh I know no, ; the Bern
Riam, 3,000 to 3,500, living in ov about the Jibbae Kudhera (the Green
Mountains), six days' distance from Muskat;-are on good terms wuh
the Imaum, but say they have never been in subjection to any one.
There are numerous branch tribes connected with these people : they
do not mix much with the adjacent tribes, are a violent and unru y
people, given to intoxication, and other vices not usual amongst Arabs
Their country produces great quantities of fine fruits,-yapes* of most
excellent quality; peaches; vegetables; violets and roses in pro
fusion, These mountains are the Neilghcrncs of Arabin, but the people
dislike strangers coming amongst them. The Bern ' ateeia, , ,
Chief Shaikh Nassir bin Ali bin Kadim, This is a fine tribe, am vmy
trustworthy. The Hishm, 700, Shaikh Nasstr bin Kadrm ; the Ben.
Boo Ali, 3,000 to 3,500, including those on the coast, the Chief Sha
Mahomed bin Ali; the Jeneba, living between Masseera and Soor,
said to be 10,000, the Chiefs Shaikhs Saeed bin Ah and Humood.
This tribe is much divided, and they are at variance amongst them-
selves The Beni Jaabe between Thewee and Khairat, number not
well known (many of them living with other tribes), Chief Shaikh
Mahomed bin Serban, Many of this tribe stretch as far -'o 'he in-
terioras the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Samail, In the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Aak live the small tribe
called the ludabee, the Siabee, and the Rebbewee, These are a pastoral
people, supposed to be very ancient tribes, formerly very numerou^
They are quiet and good-natured, and very different in features and
appearance from any other Arabs I have seen in Oman; a"d al houg
they speak the Arabic, they have a language of their own, >" '' h ^
many Hebrew words. Some time ago their Shaikh was Saecd Mashun.
They say they are about 1,000 souls.
* They have ripe grapes for eight months in the year, crop after crop, with which they make
wine and distilled liquors ; but they do not sell them.