"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. المجلد I. ١٩١٧" [‎٤‎٦‎٣] (٧٤٨/٤٧٢)

ASIR
463
Shamran, and other tribes of Asir, trace their descent to the Rijal
el-Hajar. The tribe is divided into nine main divisions, the
A1 Musheit, A1 Rusheid, A1 Ghamar^ Nahas, Qa'ud, Beni Bijad,
Beni Wahhab, Sha'af Rashhah, and A1 Yinfa'ah.
The Al Musheit are numerically the smallest, but politically the
most important sub-tribe, since they contain the ruling tribal
family. In former days its influence over the whole tribe was
unquestioned, but since the Idrisi's rise to fame some sections have
joined him, while others have remained faithful to the Turks, and
discord has crept in and weakened its power. It is still, however,
very powerful, and in purely tribal matters has the ultimate word
over the majority. The paramount chief is 'Abd el-'Aziz ibn
Musheit, now an old man of 60, who lives in considerable state at
Dhahban, and also owns a house in Khamis Musheit, the largest
and most important trading centre in Asir. Sheikh 'Abd el-'Aziz
is a rich man, since he levies his own taxes in this town, taking
a piastre for every donkey sold, 2 piastres for each camel, and
5 piastres for a skin of semn, &c. The Turks do not interfere with
him in this, but content themselves with taking from the
local cultivators. He is, however, expected to entertain freely
members of the outlying sub-tribes who visit him, and always
keeps an open house. In his old age he has taken to drink, and
leaves all the active management of the tribe to his son, Sa'id
ibn 'Abd. The latter, like his father, supported the Turks,
but he is also said to be in correspondence with the Idrisi. He
is now about 32 years old, and is popular with the tribe and, as
a leader, famous in war. The only other man of importance
in the family is Sheikh 'Abd el-'Aziz's nephew, Sa'd ibn Husein,
who has been won over by the Idrisi with the promise of the chief
Sheikhship if he can oust his uncle and cousin. His appointment,
however, would not be popular with the tribe, for he is reputed
to be mean and overbearing. His two brothers, 'Abd ibn Ibrahim
and Husein ibn 'Abd, ate with him, but have not much influence.
The Al Rusheid live round Khamis Musheit and towards Ibha
and number about 4,000 men. 'Ali ibn Tteij is their chief Sheikh,
a fighter of repute.
They all support the Turks, but they refuse to pay them taxes,
nor do they join the local gendarmerie. They are a prosperous
community and their nomads are rich in a breed of large white
sheep. They also own many horses. They have not a good
reputation in war.
The Al Ghamar are braver than the Al Rusheid and quarrel with
them. They live along the Beni Malik boundary, and muster about