"تقرير عسكري عن جنوب غرب بلاد فارس، المجلد II، عربستان" [ظ‎‎١‎٥] (٩٦/٣٥)

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The Muhaisin and Bam Turuf, and other tribes tributary to
the Shaikh on the W. of the Kar un could probably muster at least
10 000 armed men if so inclined, but they would probably be a
Lmce of weakness rather than strength to the Shaikh.
The BanI Lam ’Arabs, and other tribes living W. of the Diz
on the banks of the Shaur and Karkheh could also raise about
the same number, but they have never fought under the Shaikh’s
banner, and will probably never do so.
The ’Arabs under the immediate and effective jurisdiction of
ti e Shaikh, in addition to those mentioned above, could prob
ably raise about 25,000 men, under some sort of control and
more or less obedient to the Shaikh.
If however, we take 30,000 men (including 15,000 mounted)
as the’ maximum force that the Shaikh could put into the field in
S ’Arabistan, we shall not be far below or above the mark.
Such a force would be an ill-trained and ill-disciplined rabble, ill
armed, faint-hearted, and with no stomach for a fight. Under the
present regime, the probabilities of an invading army encountering
serious resistance are very small. At the same time, however,
a fairly efficient force could no doubt be trained by Europeans
under favourable conditions. This question does not, however,
fall within the scope of this book.
Artillery.— The Shaikh has no serviceable guns, but 6 muzzle-
loaders at Muhammareh are available for show purposes.
H .— N.’Arabistan.
Excluding the district of Ramuz, which, though properly speak- |
ing part of ’ Arabistan, has been dealt with in Yol. I of this .
Report (Bakhtiari Garmsh), and the ’Aqili district, which has
been similarly dealt with, it remains to consider that part of Arab
istan directly under the Governor, who usually resides at Shushtar:
First come the nomad ’Arabs under the Governor of ’Arabistan
but not formally under the j urisdiction of Shaikh Khaz al,
though in practice they obey him in all external makers.
These are (1) the Al Kathlr ’Arabs under Shaikh Haidar, liv
ing near Shush and numbering 2,300 families.
(2) The Bait Sa’ad, including the Cha’ ab-ud-Dibais under 1
Shaikh Farhan, living on either bank of the Diz, and numbering
4,000 families.
(3) The BanI Lam, who are semi-independent and need not
be considered. •
The last mentioned are potential enemies of the Shaikh, who
has long tried to bring them under his control, and, in the case of (L