'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎245] (260/1050)

'AS IE
245
merely in name, though the influence of the Idrissi during the past few years has done
something to reform them. They have never acknowledged the sway of the Turk nor
have the latter been able to subdue them. Their country in the highlands of 'Asir is
thickly forested, abounding in running streams, but only a little has been cleared for
cultivation.
Their paramount Shaikh is Saiyid Mustafa, a man of 35 years of age, and one of the
most prominent figures in 'Asir. He belongs to a family of Sa'dhah and not to the
tribe itself. In 1912 the Idrissi placed him in supreme command of the forces opposing
the Turks and the Sharif of Mecca. When the fighting was over the Rijal-al-Ma who
will suffer no outsider, complained to the Idrissi against his being put over them and
even went so far as to try to murder him. He has his own tribesmen thoroughly under
control and is looked up to as a stern but just ruler. He is responsible for collecting
tribute for the Idrissi and, reserving for himself a quarter of all he receives, has grown
rich and lives in some state in J anna.
The most serious engagement in the war of 1912 took place atMayadi in his country
resulting in a check for the Idrissi.
The Bahr Ibn Sukaina claim kinship with the Rijal-al-Ma, and are usually on good
terms with them. They reckon the Bani Thuwwa amongst their friends but are always
at feud with the Bani Hilal and Al Musa.
Chief Shaikh: Saiyid Mustafa.
600 men.
Villages :
BARAKAT (D htjwwi)—
The Dhuwwi Barakat are one of the tribes of Ashraf related tp the Quraish. They
occupy a barren stretch of the sea-coast from Shaqat-ash-Shamiyah and about 25 miles
south and extend inland for about 14 miles. The Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Doka runs through their country
and provides water for their annual crop of idukhn and dhurah. They number only 400
men, but make up for their paucity of numbers by their reckless daring.
Coastal dhows give their shores a wide berth, for they live chiefly on what they can
make by piracy, and in their swift vessels take toll of all who come their way. Their
chief is Sharif Hasan Abu Mandil, a man of about 45 years old, who recognizes the au
thority of neither the Sharif, the Turks, nor the Idrissi. His right-hand man and the one
most noted in raiding is Sharif Muhammad Ibn Saida.
They maintain a perpetual feud with their piratical rivals the Dhuwwi Hasan, but are
on friendly terms with the Zahran, their eastern neighbours, and with the Zubaid to
their south. There is a small colony of' Abadlah Ashraf in their country, which is allied
to them.
An offshoot of the tribe lives at Manadil in the Bui 'Air country.
Paramount Shaikh: Sharif Hasan Abu Mandil. 400 men.
Al-Bahr.
Janna.
Mayadi.
Khamis-al-Bahr.
Muhammad Ash-Shar.
Muhammad Ibn Ahmad.
Ibn Khair.
Muhammad Ibn 'Abdullah.
Nomads : 400 men.
Latim.
Makhluta.
Aulad Islam.
Abu Zoa.
Muhammad Abu Hanaish.
Clans:
Manadil
Hawatima
Ruwajiha
Sharif Zain Ibn Qasim.
Sharif Hashim Ibn 'Ubaid.
Sharif Dashhan Ibn Khudhairi.
Section of Manadil in Bui 'Air country. 300 men.
Chief Shaikh . Abu Talib.
'Abid-al-Manadil . ♦ .. Shaikh J
Shaikh Jamus.