'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1101] (144/688)

LAM—LAM
1101
Political position and military importance. —The Bani Lam are, with a few exceptions,
Shi 'ahs ; by some of them Persian is spoken as well as Arabic, but they are not to any
appreciable extent bilingual. Blood feuds are rigorously prosecuted both within the
tribe and against outsiders. The tribe, as a whole, show great respect for their Shaikhs,
to whom they are said to be blindly submissive both in peace and war; and though
much divided among themselves by feuds and factions they do not fail to combine
against outsiders. Their present head Ghadhban is described as notoiiously rich
and brave, but a rude and violent savage wihout the experienee or the moderation that
a ge gives " ; he appears to have a permanent good understanding with the Shaikh of
Muhammareh. .. . . , ^
On the Arab side of the border the Bani Lam are generally quiet, but the Ottoman
Government never dared to put much pressure on them ; and though the revenue collector
was treated with outward respect he did not always succeed in recovering the demand
in full. In Persia the Bani Lam give much trouble to the authorities and seldom
pay any revenue. In 'Iraq, where they are probably the largest, the most powerful
and the richest tribe next to the Muntafik, the land assessment of the Bani Lam ia
one-tenth to one-fifth in kind of agricultural produce, and they are also subject to a
trifling annual tax in cash per head of livestock; these imposts are generally farmed
out to the Shaikhs of the tribe, who collect as much as they can.
In both countries the Bani Lam are noted for their predatory tendencies, but in
reality the greater part of the tribe lead a peaceful and respectable life. The proceed
ings of the lawless minority are said, however, to be connived at by the Shaikhs, who
even accept a one-fifth share in the proceeds of their raids and robberies. Their plunder
from Arab territory is disposed of in Persia, and vice versa. In 'Arabistan it is the
Khasraj division who give most trouble j they attacked the Shushan steamer
in April 1904, and in the summer of 1905 parties of them infested the neighbourhood of
Nasiri and were not driven away without difficulty. The Kinanah also are said to raid
in the Dizful District. Gangs of Bani Lam and Lur robbers sometimes come in conflict
with one another; in the instances known victory has generally remained with the
Lurs.
The Bani Lam are now well "supplied with modern rifles, chiefly Martinis, and are
considered to be good shots, especially from the saddle. It is estimated that on the
Persian side about one-third of the fighting men are mounted and two-thirds are
armed with rifles ; on the 'Iraq side the proportion of mounted and unmounted men
is said to be about equal.
LAMAK (B ani)—
One of the Hinawi tribes of the 'Oman Sultanate {q.v.).
LAMI (Bani)—
One of the Jiblan families of the Mutair tribe {q.v.) of central Arabia.
LAMlM—
A camping ground and date grove, with no permanent dwellings, at the eastern foot
of Jabal Khadhar {q. v.) in the eastern Hajar hills of the 'Oman Sultanate.
LAMKI—
A hamlet in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Hoqain section of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bani Ghafir {q.v.) in the 'Oman
Sultanate.
LAMLAH—
A small walled village in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sabai' {q.v.) in south-western Najd.
LAMLUM—
A village which formerly stood on the left bank of the Euphrates {q.v.) 6 miles below
Imam Hamzah CII). It has now ceased to exist.
LlMLUM—
A section of the Khaza'il tribe {q.v.) of 'Iraq.