'Personalities, Arabia' [‎90] (94/374)

90
EMIRATE OF JEBEL SHAMMAR, continued.
The Emir draws his fighting men both from the Shammar
tribes, who are devotedly loyal, and from the villagers of the
small oases round Ha'il. One authority states that he can
muster, mount, and arm 20,000 (?) men ; but Doughty put
Mohammed er-Rashld's force in his annual raids at only about
800, which was the number the Emir Sa'ud was said to have
with him in 1914 in his campaign against Nuri esh-Sha'lan.
Doughty reckoned that Mohammed could, at the most, mount
and arm 3,300 men, of which some 600 were drawn from tribes
which are no longer under the control of his successor. Doughty's
estimate is probably under the mark, but it can only be by very
exceptional stress that Ibn Rashid can muster anything like
10,000 armed men.
The Emir Sa'ud is, virtually, the last of his blood-stained
race, except his own infants. The only members of the family,
therefore, to be considered are rather Subhans than Rashids.
DHARI IBN FAHD IBN 'UBEID ER-RASHlD.
Fled from Ha'il, 1908, when the Emir Sa'ud was murdered.
Tried to seize the Emirate, killing three male Rashids (grandsons
of Hamud?) who stood between him and the succession; but
failed. Still, however, maintains his pretensions. Left wife,
son and daughter in Ha'il, and fled to Riyadh and became right-
hand man of Ibn Sa'ud. Tuberculous and was treated at
Bombay for four months and afterwards by the American doctor,
von Vlach of Bahrein. Now cured. Of much repute among
Arabs and trusted by Ibn Sa'ud ; said to be of capacity and
judgement. His younger brother, FEISAL, aged 25, is also
with Ibn Sa'ud and in his confidence. Both brothers were seen
by Shakespear at Koweit after their flight.
FATIMAH.
Widow of Subhan, vizier of the Emir Mohammed, and
grandmother of the present Emir, Sa'ud, whose mother is her
daughter Mudhi. An old woman of strong character and con
siderable political influence. In 1914 she held the keys of
the Treasury during the Emir's absence. No decision could
be taken without her consent, and though, nominally, the
administration of Ha'il was in the hands of Ibrahim es-Subhan
(murdered in May 1914), she was de facto governor. Said to
have great authority over the Emir. She rules the women
of the Palace with a rod of iron.
NDRAH BINT 'ABD EL-'AZlZ.
Half-sister of the Emir Sa'ud. She was married first to
Hamud es-Subhan, who brought back his nephew, the young