'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎154] (169/1050)

154
ALI-ALI
Section.
Sub-section.
Fighting
strength.
Habitat.
bemaeks.
Smidah
Mazamilah
i
100
Ditto.
4
About 1,000
Bedouin souls
in addition
belong to
these two
subsections :
they own
some 100
camels, 40
cattle, 50
donkeys and
300 sheep
and goats.
Ditto
Saif (Aulad) ..
50 •
Ditto .. J
The total number of the tribe appears to be about 7,000 souls. The Bani Bu 'Ali
became Wahhabis at the time of the Najdi invasions of 'Oman nearly a century ago ;
and as late as 1845 they were strict, if not fanatical, in the observance of Wahhabi
principles. They have since relaxed something of their rigour and have resumed the
smoking of tobacco ; but they continue to be exact in their observance of the forms and
times of prayer and are accounted the most religious tribe in the 'Oman Sultanate.
They belong to a Wahhabi sect known as Azraqah.
The Bani Bu Ali are on the average men of middle size, with short features and quick
deep-set eyes. A gloomy and determined expression which characterises some of
them does not belie their natural character. They are a warlike, independent race and
bear a h gh reputation' for courage and dash. Their favourite weapon was originally
a thin, straight, two-edged sword, sharp as a razor and attached by a leather thong to a
shield 14 incnes in diameter, in addition to which they carried matchlocks ; their ar
mament is now of a more modern character, but they still have few breech-loaders.
The Bani Ba Ali are the only tribe of the 'Oman Sultanate that have met a British
force on land. On the 9th November of 1820, they defeate 1 a force of British Indian
sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. at their village of Balad Bani Bu'Ali, and on the 2nd March 1821 suffered
severe retribution near the same place. On the latter occasion the tribe lost heavily
is killed and wounded, the town and fort were destroyed and a large number of
prisoners were taken including the principal Shaikh, Muhammad-bin- 'Ali; but the
date groves belonging to the place were spared,—an act of clemency that was
much appreciated and is still remembered. The prisoners after being kept for two
years at Bombay were repatriated and received grants of money from the Indian
Government to enable them to rebuilt their houses and restore irrigation. Since this
episode the tribe have uniformly shown themselves well-disposed to the British nation
and have treated hospitably more than one British traveller visiting their country;
but they have never fully regained their position in tribal politics. The Bani Bu 'Ali
have a chronic feud with their neighbours the Bani Ba Hasan; their present Tamimah
resides near Lashkharah but sometimes visits Sir, where he has a house.
'ALI (B ib)—
A well on the Hadhramaut coast, which is usually the first halting-place on the rout©
from Balhaf to Mukalla, and situated about 13 miles eastward of the former port.
'ALI (Bm)—
A watering-place situated slightly to the north of east of Lahaj, in the Aden Pro
tectorate, and at a distance from it of about 16 miles. It possesses a well of good water,
and is much frequented, being on the routes leading to Harur, both from Aden and Lahaj.