'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎76v] (157/180)

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Settled Nairn of Oman. —Settled Na'im are found in Trucial 'Oman, in the
'Oman Sultanate, and also in the neutral autonomous district of Jau which is
situated between the two former. The table below explains the distribution of
the tribe in this quarter:—
Country.
Principality or district.
Town or village.
Number of houses.
Trucial 'Oman
'Ajman
'Ajman
25
Do.
Sharjah
Dhaid
30
Do.
Do.
Hairah
250
Do.
Do.
Hamriyah
250
Do.
Do.
Haqalah
10
Do.
Do.
Sharjah Town
100
'Oman Sultanate
Batinah
Sanqar
45
Do.
Do.
Dhank Town
660
Do.
Do.
Sanainah
200
Independent 'Oman
Jau
Baraimi Village
100
Do.
Do.
Hafit
150
Do.
Do.
Qabil
180
Do.
Do.
Su'arah
100
From the figures given it may be inferred that the total number of non-nomadic
Na'im in 'Oman is about 10,500 souls, of whom roughly 3,500 belong to Trucial
'Oman, 4,500 to the 'Oman Sultanate, and 2,500 to Independent 'Oman.
Bedouin Na'im of 'Oman. —The Bedouin Na'im in 'Oman range over the
entire central portion of the 'Oman Promontory towards its base. The district of
Jau, in which the Baraimi Oasis is situated, may be regarded as their headquarters;
but they are predominant also in the Dhahirah District of the 'Oman Sultanate to
the eastwards, and on the west they extend to the district of Khatam which they
occupy in common with the Bani Yas and Dhawahir. In winter some of the
Na'im pasture their animals on the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. between the Baraimi Oasis and
Sohar, and the Na'im are an important factor in tribal politics at the head of
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hatta; but on the north their principal location is in the plain of Jiri which
is shared by their Khawatir section with the Ghafalah tribe. In the direction of
Sharjah, the tract known as Gharif was once in their possession; but they were
displaced by the Bani Ka'ab, who in their turn had to make way for the Bani
Qitab. The number of Na'im Bedouins in 'Oman may be roughly estimated at
2,500 souls, of whom 1,200 may be ordinarily in Truciaf 'Oman, 900 in the 'Oman
Sultanate and 400 in Independent 'Oman.
Subdivisions of the Na'im of "Oman—The Na'im of 'Oman, whether settled or
nomadic^ all belong to one of two main tribal divisions—the AI Bu Kharaiban
and the Al Bu Shamis and each of these again is resolvable into a number of tribal
sections. The Al Bu Kharaiban are said to be descended from a common ancestor
named Khazraj and the Al Bu Shamis from one 'Aus.
The following table contains some of the better known sectional names:—
Section.
Main division.
Location.
Remarks.
'Aryan
Al Bu Kharaiban.
Hafit village in Jau.
About 140 souls. In summer they
cultivate dates; in winter they roam
the desert in tents with their flocks
and herds.
'Aziz ('Ayal)
Al Bu Shamis.
Dhank Town in
Dhahirah.
About 700 souls: all are townsmen.
They are believed not to be really
Na'im, but their true origin is for
gotten.