'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎261] (276/1050)

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(h) Nomads. 3,000 men. A1 Urfan is the chief dmsion. clans being :—
A1 Haial.
At-Tihman.
A1 Am Muhammad*
A1 Farhan^
A1 Ara'ab.
3. R ufaidhat-al-yemen^
The Rufaidhat-al-Yemen is a large tribe, numbering some 15,000 men, to the
south-east of Abha, extending up the main mountain ridge and on to the plateau to
beyond the source of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Shahran.
The tribe is divided into four main divisions, the Al-al-Jihal, Bishat Ibn Salim, Bani
Qais, and Sha'af Yarima-wa-Khutab.
The chief Shaikh over all the tribe is Husain Ibn Haif, a man of 40 who live at Mudhik'
Where he is a large and prosperous landowner. His father was a mudir under the Turks
and died in the Ghamid country fighting for them, but Husain Ibn Haif joined the
Idrissi when he first revolted, and fought for him in 1910. His tribe shares his dislike
of the Turks and respect and obey him.
The Al-al-Jihal have for generations been separated from the rest of the tribe, and
lived a few miles to the west with the Sha'af Rashha and A1 Sirhan sections of the Shah-
ran. They have not, however, intermarried with the latter, and are obedient to Husain
Ibn Haif, although they do not join in any of the'quarrels which constantly occur between
their own tribe and their hereditary enemies the Shahran. They are strongly in favour
of the Idrissi and have fought for him on several occasions.
The chief of the Bishat Ibn Salim is Muhammad Ibn 'Ali Walad 'Ali Ibn Murai'i;
a shifty and cowardly man of about 45, who support the Turks and is paid by them!
This section pays taxes to the Government.
The Bani Qais lie to the east of the Bishat Ibn Salim, and also pay taxes to the Turks.
Their Shaikh, Abu Salam, is now and old man of 75 and deaf. He has always had the
reputation of siding with the strongest party.
The nomad portion of this section, the Al-ash-Shuwat, are independent of him and
the Turks.
The Sha'af Yarima wa Khutab who live to the south are likewise free, and the alle*
giance which they pay to the Idrissi is only nominal. They are a wild and suspicious
people, and though they have no objection to entertaining guests, they will not suffer
them to sleep in their tents.
The country of the Rufaidhat-al-Ymen is for the most part fertile and densely wooded
on the slopes of the hills, and the tribe is a prosperous one. They are not noted for their
martial ardour, though the A1 El Jihal and the nomads can fight well. They are nick*
named by the other tribes the Muhaniatin-al-Murra, owing to their habit of staining
their women with henna. ®
All that portion of the tribe which is against the Turks recognize the overlordship
of Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Dhulaim of the Sharai. The sister of Husain Ibn Haif is
married to Shaikh Muhammad, and the two chiefs are close friends*
Paramount Shaikh ; Husain Ibn Haif. 15,000 men.
(ct) Al-ah Jihal. 4,000 men. Muhammad Ibn Shuwail.
All settled. Chief clan is
Bani Jabra
Muhammad Ibn Um Bashr.
Chief villages are :<—
Dhibat- Al-al-Jihal
Al-Mahjar
Al-Qalt
Al-Jirr
Um Rahwa
Al-Jara
Mahshush
Al Ramadhan
Sa'ad Ibn Shuwail.
Muhammad Ibn Un.
Afair.
Muhfar.
Muhammad Hibaba.
Ibn Dhaifa.
Abu Ghazwan.
Muhammad Ibn 'Aidh,