'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎252] (267/360)

MON-MOZ
head. Thus united they took the name o£ Montefik as that of the tribe;
at least such is the report. Its direct genealogy is given as follows :—
" Maneh married the daughter of Barakat ibn Mutlij-esh-Sharif, and had
offspring.
Mahamad ... who begat Agll ... who begat
Sadrm ... „ Mahamad ... „ „
Thamir ... „ „ Faris ... „ „
Mahamad ... „ „ Agil ... „ „
Thamir ... „ „
" The chief families of the tribe were from the Beni Timim, the Beni
Malek el Ajwad, the Beni Syud al Khafajeh, Beni Rekab, and the Bednr.
" The tribe is now divided into two parts, the al Ajwad portion inhabits the
districts north of Siikal Shiskh around Semaweh, and the regions of the
llye river; the southern Montefik districts south of Siikesh Sheyukh to the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , eastwards as far as Hawlza, and north-east as far as the
Hud, are in the possession of the Beni Malek, improperly pronounced
Malick. With the exception of the house of Sheblb, the tribe professes the
Shla faith of Islam. That name applies to the family of the present
Sheikh, as does the name of Sadun. These are of Sfini principles. Their
war-cry is " Azyud," while that of the Beni Malek, or the Beni Tenan ez
Zeydan, as they are sometimes called, is " Ye tun."
Sukes-Sheyukh is the chief seat of the family governing the tribe. It
was a favourite mart of the Arabs, and much trade was carried on when the
Montefik were at peace with each other. Many influential traders resided
there, but the late troubles have sent them away to escape from the rapacity of
the contending Sheikhs. The tribute paid to the Baghdad treasury by the
tribe varies according to its strength, atid the means the Turkish Govern
ment has of enforcing it; but ordinarily it may be computed at a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees and a
half of Shamies a year in money and presents to those in power. The
tribe is rich, however, and could afford to pay much more than it consents
to do. The whole date districts are in its hands, and it further possesses
abundance of cattle, horses, and flocks, besides large herds of camels. The
territory is rich also in ; rice grounds, and there are many tribes of cultivators
living, even rich, under Montefik protection. Of these the Ahl Jezair and
Beni Mansur are powerful bodies in themselves. [Kinneir—Fraser—Jones)
MORAD SC.—Lat. Long. Elev.
See Euphrates.
MOX St—Lat. Long. Elev.
A river in Kurdistan which rises in the Aghovar peak ot the Susuz Dagh
south of Lake Van, and after a short course, joins with the Shatak Su, to
form the Bohtan Su. {Taylor—Imperial Gazetteer)
MOZDOK—Lat. Long. Elev.
A town in the Russian Government of the Caucasus, on the right bank of
the Terek, 75 miles cast of Georgievsk, 50 miles north of Vladikavkas, 115
miles west of Kizliar, 148 miles north-north-west of Tiflis. It is very,
indifferently built, most of the houses being of wood, plastered with clay,
covered with straw, and only one story high; but has rather a cheerful
appearance in consequence of the beautiful and well stocked gardens which
every where surround the houses, the best edifice is a Roman Catholic Chapel;
there is also a Russian Church. The inhabitants live chiefly by the products
of their gardens and vineyards, and by the manufacture of morocco leather,
and a kind of spirit prepared from grapes. There is also some trade.
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