'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎280] (295/1050)

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'ASlR
They are a bold and fearless tribe who live chiefly by raiding, and unpretected parties
either of the Turks or ordinary travellers, are never safe while in their country. Thev
have never submitted to Ottoman authority, and, since the rise of the Idrisi, have quite
got out of hand. Their chief Shaikh, Shaikh Sarwi, is one of the most noted highway
men of 'Aslr, and has given endless trouble to the Government. They are generallv
at feud with the A1 Musa, Rabi'ah-wa-Rufaidhah and Bui Asmar, are still allied with
the Rijal-al-Ma' and Bui Ahmar. Their relations with Bahr Ibn Sukaina are nenfral
Chief Shaikh : Sarwi. 2,000 men. "eutrai.
(a) Chief viJUges. 1,300 men.
Al-Ida ., ,» ,. Shuflut.
AmButuh. .. .. .. 'Ali Ibn Yahya.
Al-Badla .. .. ,. Ibrahim Ibn Musa'ad.
Al-Qarain .. .. Mushatir.
A1 Am Ba'aira .. .. ,, Muhammad Ibn Tali'.
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Hafar .. Ibn Hadhiyah.
AlGhaniyah .. .. Shaban.
(b) Nomads. 700 men.
Badu Al GhanTyah .. .. .. Abu Jahila.
A1 Qabais .. . • ,, Ahmad Ibn 'Adwan.
Al Fidhaila .. .. .. Ahmad Abu Hanaish.
'URYAN (B ul)—
The Bul 'Uryan, or " Fathers of nakedness", have received their name from the poor
and savage conditions under which they live. They appear to be mostly of African
extraction and, save for a few miserable villages, they are nomads. Their exact bound
aries have not been ascertained, but it is known that they have Ghamid on the north the
Bul Qarn-at-Tihamah on their east, the Bani Shihr on their south, and the Zubaid on
their west.
They are divided into four sections, the Bal 'Uryan, Bani A'isa, Bani Sulaim and
Bani Suhaim, and are said to number 6,000 men. In normal times thay quarrel amongst
themselves, but unite when danger from outside threatens.
They reckon all their neighbours as foes, but they have been known to help the
Shamran against the Ghamid. The Beni A'isa pay a nominal allegiance to the Idrissi,
which means that they help him in war if there is a prospect of loot, and in peace refuse
to pay him taxes. The other sub-trjbe are completely independent and refuse to recog
nize the authority of anyone. There are many of them scattered all over the country as
far as Muhail and Birk, plying the trade of butchers. Although respected for their
bravery, they are despised by all true Arabs for their mixed blood, and their lack of
religion which almost amounts to paganism.
Sub-tribes :—
Bul 'Uryan, 2,500 men, mostly nomad.
Bani A'isa, 1,200 men, mostly settled.
Bani Sulaim, 2,000 men, mostly nomad.
Bani Suhaim, 600 men, mostly nomad.
WABA'AH—
See Qahtan.
YA'LA (B ani)—
The Bam Ya'la (Ya'li, Ay'al,) are a small settled tribe, numbering 500 men, situated
along the coast a few miles north of Hali. They are bounded on the north bv the
Marahiba section of the Bani Zaid, on the east by the Aulad-al-Alona section of the Ahl
Hali, and on the south by the Shawara section of the AhJ Hali.
They are divided amongst themselves. Shaikh Bahran of Shija'fa favouring the Idrisi
and the remainder, under Shaikh Baitali Abu 'Atana paying allegiance to the Turks.
The Bul Air and Hah both raid them, and they depend chiefly on the Turks for
Bani Zaid ^ 8 Unit ' Sin0e ^ ^ aS unwarlike a3 tlieir only allies, the