'Tribal List: Arabistan (Northern and Southern) 1923' [‎17r] (35/114)

A‘B (AL GUBBAN).
A numerous ami once powerful tribe, vvhi(jh immigrated to Southern
‘Arabistan at the end of the 16th or beginning of the 17th century. At
the time of their arrival ‘Arabistan was a subject of dispute between Teheran
and Constantinople, as to whether the southern province should or should
not form part of the dominions of the Shah. The Cha‘b had previously
been subject to Ottoman rule; they had* however, no preference for cither,
but when they spread eastwards they found themselves obliged to pay
tribute to the Shah. For the next two centuries the Cha‘b committed acts
of piracy with impunity, though naval operations were repeatedly attempted
against them by the East India Company* but without success. In the
beginning of the 19th century a rival to the Cha'b in the Muhaisin appeared,
who determined to throw off the yoke of the Cha‘b, to whom it was sub
ject, but it was not till 1898 that the Cha‘b shaikhdom was finally extin
guished and the Muhaisin inherited their possessions from the Karun to
Hindian.
In the early days of the war in 1915 the Cha‘b were affected by the-
jihad preached at the instigation of the Turks. They took no active part
against our troops, but their attitude was decidedly rebellious and they
actually made an agreement to join the Bawieh in an attack on Nasiri;
in this, however, they failed the Bawieh at. the last moment. Of the four
main tribes that were hostile to the British, namely, the Cha‘b, Bawieh,
Bani Tamim and Bani Turuf, the Cha b held out longest and for that
reason the Shaikh of Muhammarah sent a force of 3,000 Muhaisin to attack
them; the Cha'b were defeated and caused no further trouble during the-
war. The action took place on the 5th June, 1915, at the village of Umm-as-
Sakhar. where the Cha'b were collected in force and defeated within four-
hours.
In the event of possible future expeditions against the Cha'b it is
worthy of note that the canal system furnishes the key to the topography
of the Fallahiyah district, and that canals which it is desired to close are
quickly and effectively dammed at their heads with earth and brushwood.
In addition the Jarrahi river forms the main artery of inland communi
cation by water, and boats of considerable size can navigate to the upper
most limits of the Fallahiyah district, and even beyond, from the Persian
Gulf by the port of Buzieh and the Khor Musa* though the Jarrahi is not
connected by a navigable waterway to either. The Jarrahi, however, is
the principal means of communication between Muhanmiarah and Falla
hiyah, being joined to the Karun at Marid by the Fallahiyah-Marid canal.
About 300 ballams are said to have their headquarters at Fallahiyah town.
The tribe is divided into three main divisions Dris or 'Asachrah, Albu
Ghubaish and Khanafarah. Though Dris and Albu Ghubaish are under
two separate chiefs, they invariably tight under one ffag.
The tribesmen cannot be described as altogether, settled, nor are they
wholly nomadic. Where they own arable lands, they cultivate wheat,
barley and rice; they also own buffaloes, cattle, sheep and even donkeys;
there are numerous date groves along the banks of the canals, which they
cultivate, whilst in the marshes they move about in canoes fishing and
shooting wild fowl.
The tribe is under the control of the Shaikh of Muhammarah, who-
collects revenue through their chief Shaikh, ‘Abud ibn Dhuwaiyib.