'Notes on the "Akhwan" Movement' [‎107v] (7/8)

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Tribal laws and customs, such as "Dakhalah" (refuge), " Fasal" (blood-money), &c.,
were not recognised either by Bin Sa ud, his Qadlus, or lus Ainiis.
(c) Military. —Bin Sa'ud kept up a small standing army of regularly paid soldiers.
Each province had its garrison, and the chief strategical points were held by these
men. The garrison of each province came under the direct orders of the Hakim.
Ibn Juluwi in Hasa had 700 men to keep order with, distributed as under. Hufuf
500, Mubarraz 200. These so-called regulars are half mounted, half dismounted.
' Bin Sa nd's chief strength lay in his Akhwan (Badiyah) forces. These numbered
300,000 men, he reckoned. He could mobilise these in an incredibly short time if the
war was a Jihad, such as it would be if it were against the Sharif.
Rifle practice was regularly carried out under the eye of the Hakims of the
provinces; also individuals were encouraged to hold private matches. Rifles in use
among regular 'Askar were all of small-bore magazine type (Mauzer mostly). Ihe
Badiyah possessed every type of rifle, though the majority had small -bore weapons. I
saw many 30*3 Mauzer, Manlicher among them.
(d) Revenue. —For the collection of Zikat and Miri from the settled popillation,
the Governors of Hakims of the provinces were responsible. At present Bin Sa ud
himself collected Zikat from the Akhwan, both those who dwelt in towns, and those
out with camels. Bin Sa'ud allowed no one but himself to interfere in this matter as a
matter of policy. He himself toured round all Akhwan settlements every three
months, and kept himself in closest touch with their leaders. Bin Sa'ud told me his
revenue did not at present cover his expenditure. He did not know what he would do
if His Majesty's Government reduced his subsidy. He would be faced with lawlessness
again, he thought. He was Improving his taxation and financial position fast, but it
would be long before he could show a proper budget. His future hopes lay in the ports
of Ojair and Jubail and customs accruing therefrom. He wished to discourage entirely
goods coming from Hijaz as he got no benefit, but with two good ports of his own on
the east coast and properly managed customs, he hoped t® make 40 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
annually. But this was not yet.
A tribe that paid Zikat to Bin Sa'ud ipso facto could claim absolute protection from
all its enemies. Hence the desire of many tribes in Oman, Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , Yaman,
Shammar to pay the tax. It meant they were guaranteed from raids.
(e) The following is a list of the new towns that have arisen in Najd under the
Akhwan movement :—
Al Artawiyah.
A1 Mubaiyidh.
Ruwaighab.
Ad Dhinah.
Al Sob.
Al Ghawarah.
Al Dakhnah.
Al 'Araifja.
Al 'Asailah.
Al Thalah.
Al 'Ammar.
Al Ratawi.
Ar Raudhah.
As Sabha.
Ar Rain Al Nauqi.
Al Jufair.
Al Hasi.
Al Dulaimiyah.
Al Shabikiyah.
Al Nafi.
Al 'Arja.
Sajar.
Wasit.
'Arwa.
Sannam.
Ar Riyu al Hadri.
Al Khabra.
Al Ghatghat.
Al Khadhrah.
Librah.
Al Bada'.
Al Dhabi'ah.
Al Munaisif.
Al Ghil.
Al Haiyathim.
Al Wasla.
Hajrat Bani Hafif.
'Awairidh.
Hajrat Khalid.
Hajrat Bani Sulul.
Hajar al Aba alGharb.
Hajar Tashlith.
Fairilshan.
Hajrat al Lawam.
Hajar Ahl Najran.
Hajrat ibn Ghannam.
Hajrat Haif Zahran.
Hajar Ahl al Sabik-
hah.