'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎812] (867/1050)

812
HEJAZ
stipend from the Turks, in order that he may guarantee the Medina road so far as it
lies through Juheinah territory. But he fell out with the Emir of Mecca in 1916 on
account of pro-Turkish sympathies and action, and is likely to give way again to Sherif
Ali Ibn Abdullah. The Sheikh of the Beni Ghane'm sub-tribe usually fills the office of
Emir at Umlejh.
There are two main sections, the Musa and the Malik. The first is said to contain
eleven sub-tribes, of which the Ghaneim near Umlejh is most important. They range
mostly about El-Habl and in the oases of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. el-Iss, The Malik has four sub-tribes, all
near Umlejh.
6.—hlarb.
The Harb are Ahres-Shimal. They are a powerful and warlike tribe of Hejaz and of
Nejd, occupying the coast of the Red Sea from gouth of Yam bo' to south of Jiddah and
again from south of Lith to near Qunfudah ; the mountain country between Medina and
Namas (a Turkish post on the southern border of the Hejaz); and the desert to the north
east up to Jebel Abanat. Inland, their country extends just across the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Rummah.
Their clans in the Hejaz come under the influence of the Sherif, though they pay him
tribute only when it suits them. They are responsible for the safety of the southernmost
section of the Hejaz railway, but their connexion with the pilgrim traffic is chiefly of a
less respectable kind ; for they rob caravans on the Mecca road, kill and plunder stragglers,
and extort money at every opportunity. The Auf and Lehabah clans are noted high
waymen, much dreaded by the p Igrimage. The Harb of the Hejaz are mostly cultivators,
fishermen, and carriers. The Beni Salim are also camel-breeders ; but none of the Harb
are specially rich in camel-herds.
The Harb are divided into two great sections, Beni Salim and Beni Masruh, or, accord
ing to some authorities, into three, the Beni Amr being reckoned not a sub-tribe of the
Masruh, but a third independent section. According to the first arrangement, the two
great sections have each two main sub-sections, thus :—
I. Beni Salim .. .. .. C 1. El-Marauhah or El-Hawazim,
^2. Beni Maimun.
II. Beni Masruh ,. ., ..CI. Beni Amr.
(.2. Zubeid.
Adopting for the moment this arrangement, we may say in general that $nly the first
sub-section is in the main non-Hejazi, the elans of the other three almost all ranging within
the province as delimited here.
(1) The Beni Maimum range mostly between Medina and Yambo'. Their principal
sub-tribes or clans with their chiefs and diras are :—
Ahamdah ; 500 men ; eh ©f, Khalil el-Ahmadi; in Jebel Fiqrah betwesn Medina and
Yambo'.
Subh ; 1,500 men ; chief, Sherif ibn Nami; in Jebel Subh and Bedr Hunein.
Rahalah ; 500 men ; from Bir Abbas to Bir ibn Hasani
The whole sub-section may number 1,500 tents, say 12,000 souls. Of its sub-tribes,
the Suhh are almost entirely nomad and have a reputation for bravery and valour. The
other sub-tribes are half-settled, half pastoral, with the exception of the Kuwwad,
a clan of menials, camel-drivers, and negroes, divided between the Beni Salim and the
Masruh,
The Ahamdah are also reported stout and dangerous fighters. Other elans of less
importance range near Medina and in and about Jebel Fikra. The Beni Salim seem to
own not pramount chief ; the Sheikhs of the Ahamdah and Stibh have the most influence.
(2) The Beni Amr own the date-growing district of Fur' near Medina, but their prin
cipal Sheikh, Dheifallah ez-Zuweibi, is generally in Nejd. He is about eighteen to twenty
ye .rs of age, and a strong partisan of the Sherif. The sub-tribe of the Jahm are Shiahs.
The range of this sub-section (or section) is chiefly in the hinterland between the four
points Medina-Rabugh and Mecca-Jiddah. Its prinoipal sub-tribes or clans are:—
Baladiyah, 400 men ; between Rabugh and Fur\
M iCahbed, 1,000 men ; near Mecca.
Humran, 100 men ; between Mecca and Jiddah.
Bevi Jabir, 500 men ; near the Humran.
Bishr, 200 men ; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Fatima.
Ibidak, Jebel Thubrah.
Ruhakah, Fur', near Medina,