Page 148 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 6 -10

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DISTRICTS 251

Practically the whole of the Batinah belongs to the Hinawi
faction. The largest and the most important tribes are the Yal
Sa‘d and the Hawasinah ; the former arc Ibadhis by religion,
the latter partly I bad hi and partly Sunni. The Yal Sa‘d are
particularly wealthy, owning hundreds of thousands of date-pal ms
and a good deal of land under grain, besides boats for trade and
fishing ; they are consequently unwarlike and are little respected
among other Arabs. The following is a list of the other tribes which
arc represented in this populous district: ‘Awarnir, Daru‘, Dhahiil,
Futeisat, Ghafalah, Beni Haya, Hikman, Beni Jiibir, Jantiabah,
Beni Ka'ab, Bern Kaheil, Maqabil, Matarlsh, Mazari', Mishaqisah,
Na'im, Qawasim, Yal ‘Abd cs-Salam, ShawafV, Siyabiyin, Al
‘Umeir, Beni ‘Umr, Yahamidah, Beni ‘Ali, Al Badar, Biduwat,
Yal Breik, Daramikah, Dawakah, Fazara', Ghafeilat, Beni Ghaith,
1 Ghawarib, Hadadabah, Aulad Hadid, Al Hamad, Beni Hammad,
:
I Beni Bu Hasan, Hinadis, Beni Hina, Huyud, Jabur, Yal Jarad,
Beni Khalid, Yal Khaims, Beni Khammarah, Khazeimat, Ma'awal,
Manawarah, Maqannah, Marazlq, Mashafirah, Mmvalik, Nuwafil,
Al Bu Qarein, Qateit, Racleinat, Al Bu Rasheid, Beni Rashid, Riya-
yisah, Beni Sa‘d, Salatinah, Suwalih, Yal Shablb, Shabfil, Shamus,
Shiyadi, Al Wahibah, Za‘ab, Bayasirah, Baluchi, Fawaris, Jadgal,
Kh5jah, and Persians or 'Ajam.
The district is easily accessible by sea from Muscat, and the
Sultan of Oman maintains representatives at nine of the coastal
towns. The principal Vilayet is Sohar, which is divided into the
sub-Vilayets of Saham, the town and district of Sohar, Liwa, and
Shinas. The remaining towns at which Valis are maintained,
beginning from the north, are Khaburah, Suweiq, Masna‘ah,
Barkah, and Sib.
The following are the principal towns and villages :—
1. Sohar, the administrative centre of the whole western half of
Batinah, and the port of supply for a number of wadis and in some
degree for the Bireimi Oasis (see p. 281). The town contains about
800 houses, mostly of mud and stone, and is walled upon the land­
ward sides ; several hut-villages adjoining Sohar are also reckoned
as quarters of the town ; total population 7,500. The greater
part of the town of Sohar is in the hands of Persians and Baharinah,
or Arab-speaking Shiahs, less than a quarter belonging to the
Bayasirah, an industrious and wealthy Arab tribe of inferior social
status divided in politics between the Ghafiri and Hinawi factions.
One quarter on the NW., separated by a small creek from the town,
is inhabited entirely by Baluchis, and is known as Hadhlrah. The
date-belt is 3 miles deep at Sohar, and besides dates the principal