Page 60 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 3

72 THE BEDOUIN TRIBES

(e) The Beni Malik of the Hejaz are a small tribe numbering not
more than 2,000 men, who live in the mountains inland of Lith.
The adjoining tribes are the Beni Sa d on the north, the Shalawah
nomads on the east, the Zahran on the south, and the Juhadlah on
the west. The Beni Malik are not a fighting tribe, but they are
hospitable and industrious, and cultivate figs and grapes in the
wadis, as well as wheat, barley, and dhura. During the Pilgrimage
season most of them go to Mecca and Jiddah and act as porters.
They thus come more into contact with the outside world than
most tribes and are more civilized. They are devoted to the Sherif
and pay him taxes.
Nasir ibn Rawwaf is their chief Sheikh.

They live at peace with their neighbour^ except the Shalawah,
who occasionally raid them. Most of their villages are clustered
in Wadi Luz and Wadi Rumman. m
(/) The Shenabrah are a small nomad tribe to the south of Mecca,
numbering not more than 150 men. They are one of the 21 Ashraf
clans (see pp. 406 ff.), and, being nearly related to the ‘Abadilah,
support the Sherif of Mecca. Sherif Judallah is their head. The
Shenabrah are brave and lawless, and are generally at loggerheads
with the Dhawi Surur.

(g) The Dhawi Surur number about 200 men and wander over
the country to the south of Mecca, being entirely nomadic. They
are one of the 21 Ashraf clans, and are connected with the Dhawi
Zeid. They are opposed to the Shenabrah. Sherif Dukhan is their
chief Sheikh. Clans are Aulad El-Hasan and Al ‘Aziz. They all
obey the Sherif.
(h) The Beni Thaqif, a tribe descended from Himyar in the
highlands to the south of Ta’if. They are bounded on the north
by the northern section of Juhadlah, on the south by the Beni Nasri,
i
east by the Shalawah, and west by the Beni Faham. They are
almost entirely settled and agricultural, and grow cereals, grapes, 1
and other fruits for the Ta/if market. For water they depend partly
on the summer rains, but chiefly on well water. Nasir ibn Ghuzeil
is their chief Sheikh, a firm adherent of the Sherif of Mecca. He
commands about 2,000 fighting men. In times of crisis they
combine with the Beni Malik, Beni Sa d, and Beni Nasri. They
are always at feud with the Beni Faham and are not cordial to the
Juhadlah. They possess very few camels. A certain proportion
of the tribe lives permanently in Ta if. The chief sub-tribes are
Sufyan, Mu‘adhdher, and Rabl’ah.
(<) The Beni Sa‘d, a tribe which traces its descent to Himyar.
J