'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎265] (280/1050)

'ASlR
265
RABl'AH-WA-RUrAIDHAH—
The Rabl'ah-wa-Rufaidhah stretch from a few miles north-north-west of Abha to
within about 15 miles of Muhail, their country being about 35 miles from north to south,
and 20 miles from east to west on the average, though it tapers to a point in the north.
The tribes which adjoin them are: on the north the Ar-Raish, on the east the Bui
Ahmar and Bani Malik, on the south the 'Alqam-al-Hul, and on the west the Rijal-al-
Ma' and Bani Thuwwa, The tribe is divided into four main divisions, the Rabi'at-
ash-Sham, A1'AsTmat, Rufaidhat-ash-Sham and A1 Harith. The Rabi'at-ash Sham and
Rufaidhat-ash-Sham have no relationship or connection with the Rabi'at-al-Yemen and
Rufaidhat-al-Yemen as might be supposed.
The Rabi'at-ash-Sham occupy the southern portion of the territory, being entirely
settled in villages along the Abha-Athalif road.
They have no Chief Shaikh, having expelled 'Aidh Ibn Hasan, their former Shaikh;
on account of his desertion to the Turks.
The A1 'Asimat are partly settled and partly nomad, chiefly along the Bani Thuwwa
boundary.
Their Chief Shaikh, 'Ali Ibn Hamud, fought for the Idrissi in 1910, was captured by
the Turks, and after a year's imprisonment was released and reinstated.
The A1 Harith who are both settled and nomad, live in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Tayya, along which
is the main road from Abha to Muhail, and for years have given a great deal of trouble
to the Government. The Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Tayya is the headquarters of all the bad characters in
the neighbouring country, an d a caravan has to be very strong to pass through without
paying toll. The A1 Harith are notoriously treacherous and their hand is against the
whole world, including their own tribe. They engage in the camel-carrying trade to
a certain extent between Muhail and the Rijal-al-Ma', but they seldom venture near
Abha, nor can the Turks levy taxes from them, as they sometimes do from the rest of
the tribe. Their Shaikh, Muhammad Ibn Shahir, has a very bad reputation.
The tribe as a whole favours the Idrissi, chiefly because it is discontented with the
Government. It is, however, notoriously fickle and unreliable, and goes with the side
which pays it best. It maintains a hereditary feud with the Rijal-al-Ma'., It is des
cended from Q ah tan, •
(a) R abi'at-ash -S ham . Settled, 1,500 men.
Chief clan is Bani Ghanni, Shaikh: Al-Fajih.
Chief villages ares—
Taihan 'Amr Ibn 'Abdullah.
Am Sharaf 'Abdullah Ibn 'Abdillah,
Am Sowli Ahmad Ibn Ghanmi.
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Zabna. Muhammad Ibn 'Abdu.
Bahat Rabi 'ah. Muhammad Ibn Sultan.
Am Masjowi. 'Abdullah Ibn Masfir.
Rahban. 'Abdullah Ibn Fajih.
Shaikh Misfir Ibn Ma 'sir Ibn Mufti,
(5) Al 'Asimat . 2,000 men.
Chief Shaikh : 'Ali Ibn Hamud.
(i) Settled, 1,000 men. Chief villages are :—
Am Rahwa. Ibn Mani.'
Jan ibn Shaiban, Ibn Haza'.
{ii) Nomad, 1,000 men. Chiefs clans are : —
Al Um Manaish Tihamah Mani' Ibn Hanaish.
Al Jahaishah. Abu Karatha.
Al 'Aqabah. Musafir.
Sahar Al 'Asim. Jabir.
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