Page 506 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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BENIYAS.

Neither Aboothabec, nor the Beniyas Tribe inhabiting it, appears to
have met with a separate notice in Mr. Warden’s Sketches, It is
situated just below Ras Suffan, on a portion of land formed into an
island by a backwater, which admits boats, but which is fordable at
one spot during low-water. The anchorage off the town is unsafe :
vessels drawing fourteen feet water arc obliged to lie a mile and
a quarter off from the shore, and are completely exposed to the violence
of the north-westers; while, from the low nature of the shore, and
prevalence of hazy weather, it is extremely difficult of access. The
town, with the exception of the Shaikh’s house, or small fort, is built
entirely of cadjans, the policy of the present ruler, Tahnoon, being
opposed to the erection of stone buildings, as rendering his subjects too
independent of him, and, at the same time, causing him to be more
tangible by an attack on the sea side. The number of inhabitants
fluctuates, but may be taken on an average at about IS,000 souls.
During the pearl fishing upwards of 600 boats visit the banks, each
carrying from seven to fifteen men. The soil is arid, and unproductive,
and the water on the island brackish. Aboothabee is consequently
dependent upon other places for its supplies of provisions, and is soon
reduced to great distress by anything like an effective blockade.
The Beniyas Tribe is composed of several others, such as the Marier
and the Kemzan, descended from the Beni Sukur; the Hawamul and
the Mujalibah, from the A1 Ali; the Sumeesat, from the Abedal; the
Rameesat, from the Beni Humeed ; the. Maharibah, from the Beni
Naeem; the Bomaher, from the Shubeeb and Kalazy; the A1 Boo
Felasa, from a branch of the Beniyas; and the Beni Kaab, from the
Kaab. The rulers over this collection of tribes have generally been
selected from the Huboo Fulah family, from which Shaikh Tahnoon is
descended.
The original seat of*the Beniyas,.like that of the Arabian Tribes,
■was in Nujd, but on leaving that part of Arabia they settled in the
tract of country extending between Biddah and Brymee. The larger
portion of the tribe was composed of Bedouins, residing in the interior,
and tending their flocks and herds ; but some few individuals, reduced