"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. المجلد I. ١٩١٧" [‎٤‎٤‎٢] (٧٤٨/٤٥١)

442
SETTLED TRIBES OF THE WEST
which threatens to extinguish all, and for offence at the biddiiw
of the Idrisi, g
On this account they are dealt with one by one, but are grouped
together under the heading of Qahtan for convenience of reference
They are far too removed from the northern Qahtan to keep in
touch with them, and never go near their country. Sometimes in
times of drought a few of the former come down south and are
always well received, but the connexion ends at that.
The southern Qahtan tribes are for the most part, and with the
exception of certain nomad sub-tribes, well conducted and pros
perous, and interested in trade or agriculture. The different sections
vary considerably in military skill and few of them appear to have
inherited the characteristics which have earned for their northern
relations such an unsavoury reputation.
33.
The 'Abidah appear to be the bravest as well as the most pros
perous and enterprising section of the Qahtan. Their boundary in
the south, where they have their villages, is well defined, but to the
north their nomads wander over a vast stretch of country, and for
almost 150 miles their western boundary adjoins that of the Shahran.
To the east lies Tathlith and the Yam tribes, to the south the Beni
Bishr, and to the south-west the Rufeidat el-Yemen.
The 'Abidah will follow Mohammed ibn Dhuleim in battle, but
they do not like the Shereif in normal times, and look to their own
chief Sheikh, Sa'd ibn Suleim, in tribal matters. The latter is
a man of about 40, and lives at Khamis Abidah, the principal
village and market-place of the tribe. He is a rich man, and owns
a large estate, and is much liked by his tribesmen, both for his
justice and fairness and because he always is in the forefront of
every fight. His sister married one of the sons of 'Abd el-Aziz
Musheit, chief of the Shahran, about 20 years ago, and a truce
was made between the two tribes. Shortly afterwards he had the
misfortune to kill another of 'Abd el-'Aziz's sons in a petty tribal
dispute, and war again broke out and continued until the Idrisi
pacified the country. There is still a bitter hatred between the
two, which shows itself in periodical outbreaks. So deep is the
enmity that in the case of a murder of an 'Abidah by a Shahran
no question of blood money is entertained, and the murdered mans
relations do not rest until they have killed a Shahran in return.
Sheikh Sa'd ibn Suleim was formerly with the Turks, but he joined
the Idrisi in his first revolt and has been one of his most faithful