'File 8/62 IV PRINCIPAL SHAIKHS & TRIBES OF OMAN.' [‎19r] (37/282)

Both the Imam and the Sultan have appointed Walls to con
trol the tribes of Jala'an (the Beni bu Hasaan and Beni Rasib).
Ahmed bin Mohammad al Hart hi is the Imam’s, and Salim bin Hamid
the Sultan’s. The former lives at Balad Bu Hass an and the
latter at Kamil, about twenty miles north.
BEH I HIHAH .
The Beni Hinah is a tribe of about one thousand strong
with perhaps five hundred rifles. They are somewhat scattered
but found mostly in Hf. jar in the Wadis Samail and Beni Ghafir.
Their chief centre is Nizwa in Oman proper, whilst some are
settled in the Batinah and in Dhahirah. Their Tamimah is Zahir
bin G-husn, who is also the Imam’s Wall at Rostak. The Hinawi
faction takes its name from this tiibe. Thourh invited several
times> the Tamimah refuses to visit the Sultan, and the tribe
remains close to the Imam, They appear friendly but are a
treacherous people. They are at feud with Beni Ghafir. Most
are occupied in cultivation and camel driving, but a few trade
with Dubai and Sharjah,
ILL HIRTH (o r EA RTH OR HORTH) .
The Hirth is an important tribe of the Sharqiyah District
settled around Baldeh a I Harthi, and their capital Ibra. Some
are also found on the Batinah near Sib. Salih bin Isa is their
Tamimah. He is also Tamimah of all the Hinawis and probably,
like his father, the most influential Shaikh in Oman. He is,
at least outwardly, on r, ood terms with the Sultan, and the ex
tent to which the latter values his support can be judred by com
parison of the rifts made to him in 1948 with those to other
Shaikhs. Salih stayed as the Sultan’s auest for three months
and received rifles and ammunition and Rs. 6,000/-. It is said
that he enjoys complete power, even to passing sentences of death,
over his own tribe and. all the ^inawis.
The Hirtb arc intelligent and, besides the cultivation of
dates, enr-ape in trade, mostly with Zanzibar, in 'Tice, fish,
cotton and hides . Their numbers af tier a decline seem to be in-
creasinr and they are spreading all over Sharqiyah. Their strength
nay be five thousand with two or three thousand rifles of as rood
quality as can bo found in Oman,
Salih has a nephew Ahmad, son of his brother Mohammad who
was Tamimah before Salih on the death of their father Isa.
Ahmad’s claim to succeed his father failed, and he is not on
rood terms with Salih, but lacks Influence and tribal support
Generally. The tribe is in alliance with all the Hinawi tribes,
and at feud with the Masakirah. Attitude to the British is rood,
and Shaikh Salih calls on the Consul at Muscat. He n.ormally lives
at Kabil (or Qabil) a few miles south of Muscat.
EL HISHM .
The capital of the Hishm tribe is Kamil in Jala’an, and
their population about two thousand, with about one tbxusand
rifles. They occupy a rood strategical position between Sur
and Jala’an and have a stronp bedouin section. They arc warlike
and said to be robbers. They have, however, always supported the
Sultan, and hate the Imam. Their attitude to the British is very
rorG. Their more settled pursuits are fishinp, cultivation and
car. el rear! nr.
Their Shaikhs arc Khadim bin Mohammad ared about fifty,
Hu]a is bin Khadim (not the former’s son) amod about fifty-five
and Abdulla bin Said bin Rashid ared about sixty. There is no
Tamimah ..,