"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد I" [‎٢‎٤‎٩] (١٠٥٠/٢٦٤)

'AStR
HAL1 (Ahl).—
The Ahl Hali consist of four tribes which many conveniently be considered together
since, although Of different origin, they are politically one, sharirg the same country,
uniting against common enemies, and being ruled over by one chief. Their country
embraces the coastal village of Hali and. the surrounding district of the same name. The
boundary starts from the coast about five miles north of Hali, runs north-east along
theBani Ya'la territory, and thence follows a line paralled to the Hali-Juma'at Rabi'ah
Juma road and about four miles to the west, up to Kidwa, which is 18 miles north-
north-east from Hali close to the boundary of the Al- Umur section of the Bui Air.
Thence it goes south-east for about ten miles along the Rabi ah Tahahin and
Bani Dhib territory to Kiad, which is 21 miles north-east of Hali. Here it reaches
the Bani Hilal and follows their line towards the coast, which it touches about 12 miles
south of Hali,
The four tribes are the 'Abid-al-Amir, Al-Ghawanima, Aulad-al-' Alowna, and
Kanana, who are all settled with the exception of the Salalma clan of the 'Abid-al-Amir
ajid the Fillaha clan of the Aulad-al-'Alowna, both small and unimportant units.
The largest tribe is the Aulad -al-'Alowna, who number 3,CC0 men and are strung out
along the Juma'at-Rabi'ah rdad from Kidwa to Minjiya.
Next in importance are the Ohawa;nima {1,500) from Radhato Khal along the Muhail
read, then Kanana from the Bani Hilal to Minjiya and finally the Abd-al-Amir (600
men) on the Bani Dhib frontier.
The paramount Shaikh over all is Ibn 5 Aji, a man of about 55, who in the past was
a, friendijof the Turk: , but seceded to the Idrissi when the latter began to grow power
ful. The Turks used to occupy Hali, but they were driven out about 1900, and
have been unable to regain a footing. The confederation is a rich one, having sufficient
water for its agricultural needs and possessing large herds of cattle.
They are noted warriors and maintains feuds with all their neighbours. The Rijal-
al-Ma' are the only tribe whom they regard with friendly eyes. Their relations towards
each other are at times strained, but they unite for common defence and when the
Idrissi calls them out.
The 'Abid-al-Amir were originally slaves of Sudanese stock, but have long since
gained their emancipation and now rank on an equality with the Arabs. A number of
them go every year on the pilgrimage to Mecca, where they have an evil reputation for
robbery and theft.
The Kanana are an ancient and famous tribe, who probably came into being about
a. d . 100, and are descended from the Mudhar branch of Nizat. The Quraish are
a branch 'of them. They were at first settled near Mecca, and took a prominent part
against Muhammad the Prophet, by whom they were subdued. When Africa was
invaded part of the tribe went to the Sudan, where they are still in Kordofan while
others went to Egypt and from there pushed as far west as Morocco. The Arabian
remnant had meantime taken up their residence near Hali, where they were reported
to be by Ibn Batuta in 1353.
Some severe fighting took place in the Hali country during the campaign of the
Sharif of Mecca and the Turks in 1910, in which the Ahl Hali, who were fighting for
the Idrissi, gave a good account of the mselves.
Paramount Shaikh : Ibn 'Aji of, Aulad-al-'Alowna.
(a) 'Abid-al-Amir . 600 men. Ibn Saghair.
Villages
Kiad
Sabt-al-Kiad
Ibn Zamim.
Hasan Ibn Ahmad.
Bedouins;—
Salalma.
(6) Al-Ghawanima . 1,500 men.
Khalil-al-Ghanim.
Villages :—
Al-Khai
Kidwat-al-Ghawanima
Ar-Radba
Mubaiomad Jhn Ajil.
Ibn Shabib.
Hasan Ghabaish.
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