'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎302] (317/1050)

302
'AWlZIM
ritory are now without exception Sunnis of the Maliki persuasion. By the Arabs the
'Awazim are regarded as an inferior tribe, and they intermarry only among themselves
and with the Rashaidah. The Mihr or price paid for wives among them was formerly
only 40 Riyals, of which half was given in kind; it has now risen to 100 and even 200
Riyals.
Political 'position. —The tribe are at present loyal subjects of the Shaikh of Kuwait
and, from the militay point of view, the backbone of his state; the Shaikh regards
them, despite their dubious origin, as good fighting men—and with justice, for
about 50 of them were killed in his invasion of Jabal Shammar in 1901, including three
sons of the Shaikh of the Sawabir and several men of mark among the Jawasirah. The
real head of the tribe is now the Shaikh of Kuwait, but a representative of the old tribal
authority exists in Is'ud-bln-Habib-bin-Jam'ah of the Hadhalin subdivision. The
'Awazim are politically allied to the 'Ajman.
Another authority gives a somewhat different description of this tribe as follows:
The 'Awazim are a nomad tribe which is not admitted to marriage and fellowship by
true Arabs. As a considerable tribal unit it is found only in and about the principality
of Kuwait, ranging from the outskirts of the town itself (where some 250 'Awazim families
are settled), down the coast nearly to Musalamihay, and for some distance inland.
They must be the " Kuwait nomads" who, Raunkiaer says, graze their herds south of
the town in winter and resort in summer northwards to the districts round Zubair, and
also control the wells of Tawill. There are also, however Awazim (or Hawazim) else
where, who have the same sort of status, but are members of Hataim or Harb (e.j/., in
Jauf-al-'Umr, Taima, Sadair, etc.); and there is a distinct Harb clan of the name at
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Khaif near J. Fikra (see Harb). The Kuwait 'Awaizm are partly pastoral
partly follow marine occupations, pearl-diving and fishing. They are great breeders of
camels, often taking service [e.a. at Qatif) under alien masters for stud-labour. They are
subjects of Kuwait, and form the bulk of the Sultan's fighting forces ; it is due also to
their activities that he is able to claim Bubian Island, to which some of their herdsmen
resort. They are allied with the 'Ajman, and number some 4,000 souls. It appears
that they are comparatively new-comers into Kuwait territory, and their tradition is that
they were formerly with the Harb in East Hejaz. The one thing certain is that they are
regarded by Bedawis as of the same standing as Hataim or Saluba, and credited with
secret non-Islamic beliefs. In fact, however, they are Maliki Sunnities.
THE 'AWAZIM.
Tribe. Sub-tribe. Clan.
Shararat. 800 tents
Fuleihan.
Ibn Hawi.
Ibn Hawi.
Ibn Warda.
Hleisa.
Ibn Duweiji.
Azzam.
Ibn Warda.
Dhabein.
Ibn Shushan.
Khayyali.
Sweifli.
Hataim
Beni Rashid, 1,000 tents ..
Nuwamseh.
Duleim ibn Barak.
Ibn Nowas.
Salim ibn Simra.
Ibn Barak.
Nr. Hail.
Ibn Jelladan.
Ibn Dammuk.
Ibn Simri or Thiabba.
Mothabara.
Feradissa.
Heizan.
Khiyarat.
Gabid.
Suweidir.
Feb j at.
Bedauna.