Page 54 - UAE Truncal States

The Tribal Structure of Society

industry, and owned about 40 boats. They were also one of the most
numerous tribes in many LTwa settlements; during the 1950s they
had still between 40 and 50 houses there, of which about one-third
were permanently inhabited. The Qubaisat founded a settlement at
the coastal inlet of Khaur al 'Udaid, east of the base of the Qatar
promontory. The whole section hived off from Abu Dhabi several
times during the 19th century and declared their independence in
order to avoid paying to the Ruler their share of the taxes and the
special lines which had been imposed on Abu Dhabi for violating
certain treaties.20 In later generations some Qubaisat became related
to the ruling family when Shaikh Sultan bin Zayid married a Qubaisi
girl from Muzaira'ah in the LTwa. Her name was Salamah bint Buti;
she became the mother of the former Ruler, Shaikh Shakhbut bin
Sultan, the present Ruler Shaikh Zayid and their brothers Khalid and
Hazza'.27
The principal beduin section of the Bani Yas were the Mazarf
(singular: Mazru'i). According to Lorimer they had about 315 houses
in various villages in the LTwa and, in the U.K. Memorial, the Mazarf
still head the list of those six Bani Yas tribes who own property in the
LTwa, with 142 families counted in 1951 and 151 families in 1954. But
most Mazarf accompanied their camels themselves during the
winter to the grazing areas in Dhafrah or Khatam. They owned
pearling boats which they launched from Bandar Rudaim and
similar coves on the coast nearest to their settlements in the LTwa. In
later years the Mazarf bought more date gardens in LTwa villages
where no Mazru'i was previously recorded. This may indicate that
the Mazarf became more settled during the first half of this century
due to the decline in the value of camels, which had been the only
means of desert transport. Many Mazarf sold the larger part of their
herd to obtain cash to purchase gardens and thereby to augment the
supply of their staple food, dates. In the first two decades of the
century this move by the Mazarf coincided with the move by other
Bani Yas, who could afford it, to obtain property in the Buraimi
villages. Later, many Mazarf sought temporary employment in the oil
industries of neighbouring countries, and found it more convenient
to leave date gardens behind (as a fail-back security in life) which
could be tended by a few female or aged members of the family,
rather than to leave a large herd of camels inadequately protected
from raiders. Some Mazarf settled in Dubai as a result of disagree­
ments with previous Abu Dhabi Rulers.
The Hawamil (singular Hamili) have always formed a very

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