Page 44 - Arabian Studies (II)

34 Arabian Studies II

of Muscat. Politically the Qara are members of the Ghafirf Party
apart from two or three groups, who decided for the Hinawls. They
arc said to be Sunnis (ShafPTs) and they speak the dialect of the
Shaharah, who are living among them. Their tribal area extends from
Jabal al-Qara westwards to the Jabal al-Qamar, northwards to al-‘Ain
and, in the east, reaches as far as Ras Suwainlyah.
The seasonal migration of these semi-nomads follows the pattern
of moving in summer from their settlements in the valleys to their
cave-dwellings in the hill region (musto), whereas, in winter they
return to their hamlets in the valleys (mikijod).
Politically, the Qara are divided into seven tribes (qilt) with
hereditary chiefs (qer or emir). Each tribe is subdivided into
sub-tribes (‘olah) which are under the leadership of an 'aqel. In
general a sub-tribe seems to correspond with a lineage segment based
on their patrilineal kin organization. A sub-tribe consists of a certain
number of local settlement units (sekn), which represent minimal
lineages. Contrary to the ‘aqel, who is chosen through election, the
headman (Ijtedek) of a sekn is one of the older men.
The following tribes are distinguished by the informants:

Tribe: Sub-tribe:
B. Sa‘ad
B. Kush5b B. Halot
B. al-MashenT
i Ahl ‘Amr B. TamTm
B. ‘Azem
Bt. al-Bakhlt
B. Mukhair
B. Ye‘bub
B. Tobok
B. Qatan B. ‘Aq‘aq
B. Baram
B. Hardan
B. Simasah
B. Simoz
B. Tsa

The relations of the Qara with the Bait Kathlr and al-Batahlrah2
are reported as being friendly; the relations with the Mahrah are
described as neutral. The Shaharah are considered to be socially
inferior. A Qarawl will not allow his daughter to be given to a Shahrl
as a wife, whereas some cases of hypergamy are common. In this case
Qara men take their wives from the Shaharah.