'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎241] (256/1050)

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'ASlE
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TRIBES OF 'ASIIt.
'ABlBLAH ( al)—
One of the twenty tribes of Ashraf, descended from the Quraish,
1. By far the more important section is that settled in Mecca, of which the present
Sharif of Mecca, Husain Ibn 'Ali, is the head. It consists of about 200 members.
2. There is a small colony of them which has been settled for many generations in
the Bani Qutaba country of the Rijal-al-Ma. Their influence is local and unimportant.
Sharif 'Abd Ibn 'Abdullah is their leading representative.
3. Another small colony has lived for many years with the Dhuwwi Barakat, about
four hours east of the Shaqat-al-Yamaniyah. They are allied with the Dhuwwi Barakat
and friendly with the Zubaid. Their chief Shaikh is Sharif Talib Ibn Qasim.
'ABlDAH—
See Qahtan.
AHMAR ( bul)—
The Bul Ahmar live in the rich highland country to the north of Abha, their southern
boundary coming to within ten miles of that town. The tribes which adjoin them are in
the north the Bul Asmar, on the east the Shahran, on the south the Bani Malik, and on
the west the Rabi'ah-wa-Rufaidhah. The tribe is a strong one and numbers about 7,000
men of whom 4,000 are settled and the rest nomad. Their country is well watered and
produces fruits as well as cereals. The paramount Shaikh of the settled portion is
'Abdullah Ibn Milham, a young man of 25, who is liked by the tribe both for his justice
and the open house which he keeps. He is a warm supporter of the Idrissi and collects
taxes for him,
'Ali Ibn 'Abshan, or 'Ali Ghalib Bey as the Turks call him, is the nominal head of all
the nomads, but for the last few years he has only had the Al 'AsVa under his control.
In his younger days he went to Constantinople and received a military training for five
years. On his return to Asir with the rank of Bimbashi he was appointed by the Turks
chief tax-collector for the whole district. When the Idrissi revolted he stood by the
Government but was not supported by the Bul Ahmar who, with the exception of the
Al 'Asla'a, all went over to the Idrissi. For the last few years he has lived entirely
at Abba, fearing to go back to his country. He had a house in the village of Mai aha in
the Bani Malik district which was razed to the ground a few years ago by Shaikh Saiyid
Mustafa of the Bahr Ibn Sukaina,the chief general of the Idrissi in Asir. His son 'Ali was
one of the first to be chosen to sit in the Ottoman parliament, but on his return from
Constantinople was captured between Qunfudah and Abha by the Idrissi's men and died
in captivity at Sabya about six years ago. 'Ali Ibn 'Abshan himself is now about
55 years of age and is said to be brave and capable.
The Bul Ahn ar say that they are descended from the Rijal-al-Hajar, but they are
probably from some other stock, since they are fairer than other Arabs and most of
them have red hair which they wear short, and light eyelashes. The villagers have a
reputation for cowardice, but the nomads are stout fighters. The whole tribe, however,
has an evil name for treachery and theft anc^are known amongst other tribes as Kilab-
an-Na'al, intimating that as a dog in the night they will steal the shoes from their
sleeping guests.
The Bul Ahmar are friends with the Bul Asmar, Rabi'ah-wa-Rufaidhah, and Bani
Malik, but are enemies of the Shahran.
(a) Settled. 4,000 men. Paramount Shaikh: 'Abdullah Ibn Milham.
Chief villages are :■—
Baihan Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. 'Jbl
Al-'Amr Al Am Sha'ir
Sab'ah Misfara
Shigr Mushabab Ibn Yusaf.
. Al-Muwain. Muhammad Ibn Mushait.
Al Husain Shaikh Himri.
Al Mashad Hamud Ibn Muhammad.
Al Muhammad-as-Sahil Shaikh Abn Hailti.
Al Qasim Shaikh Abu Sha'ra.
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