'File 14/1- Vol 6 OIL CONCESSIONS MUSCAT' [‎66r] (131/438)

I
To
Copy of deml official letter dated the 10th January,'—^
1947, from Colonel Bertram Thomas, O.B.E., Director, Kiddle
East Centre of Arab Studies, Jerusalem, to the Hon'ble
Lieutenant Colonel W. R. Hay, C.S.I. C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in tne Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
four 0.0. Wo. 1216-S, of the L 8 th December enclosing
an extract to P.A., Muscat, on the foahra country.
1. The Mahra are not confined to the Aden Protectorate,
at least elements of the iiahra tribe range freely in the
steppe in the hinterland of the Dhofar Province as far west
as 56 20 " and there are small settled elements in the
mountains. The following extract from a published work of
mine in the Proceedings of the British Academy, Vol. xxiii
may help. (Incidentally their tongue, which I have written
a short grammar of, vide above, is, according to A1 Idrisi
(circa AD. 1100) a survival of Himyaritic . Quote :
"The Mahra, who number many thousand men, extend
from Has iSus and Jabal Zaulaul westwards through the
borderland of steppe and mountain to kadi Rama, coming
down to the coast at Jadhib and beyond. Although
speaking the tongue Mahri throughout, east and west
wings of the tribe spring from two distinct ancestors,
and today there is no paramount shaikh of the Mahra
with undisputed lineal title as is the case with many
tribes. Each section has its customary headman, though
one of these, by name Bir Afrair (Bir * (Ar.) Bin, in
the Hadara tongues), has a unique prestige and exacts
tribute from all except nomadic elements. The eastern
wing of the Mahra - Beduin mostly, who in the harvest
season become frankincense pickers - claims descent
from one Bir Boki, and this branch is known as HasarTt.
The western Lahra are largely settled, the coastal
elements are often fishermen, and a few merchants and
sailors are to be found among them."
2. As regards boundaries you will find a short
historical sketch of Dhofar on pp. 10 seq. of my "Arabia
Felix". The somewhat fortuitous way Dhofar came into
the Muscat Sultan 1 s hands 70 years or so ago probably
means that the Western boundary was always ill-defined,
if indeed it was defined at all. Before the arrival on
the scene of European oil concessionaries, dotted lines
on maps had. as you know, little interest for Arab
rulers who thought in terms of revenue-producing-ports,
or the habitats (especially water-holes; of beduin tribes
owing them allegiance. The Mahra.tribe is scarcely a
political entity but the beduin elements in the Eastern
ranges in the oultan of Muscat's territory of Dhofar do
not, so far as I know, owe allegiance as do their settled
elements in the West to the Aden Government. I remember
exploring the Southern coast with the late Sultan of
Muscat in our state-ship "A1 Sa'id" as far West as what
we then considered the boundary, but I cannot for the
life of me remember the name of the point though I have
got an idea it was to the West of Rakhiyut. I must
have a note-book and sketch map somewhere in my
belongings either in Tangier or in storage in London, and
if I get a chance of getting access to them sometime
I will remember to send you along a note of anything of
relevant interest.
Copied.
G.A.M.