"تقارير إدارة أقسام ومناطق الأراضي المحتلة في بلاد الرافدين لسنة ١٩١٨. المجلد I" [ظ‎‎١‎٨‎٤] (٤٧٠/٣٧٣)

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‘Abudah
Bani Zaid
Albu Sa‘ad
Khafajah
Azairij
Husainat
A1 Ghazzi
Ahl al Kut
Bani Zaid Dalichah
Al Budur (semi-nomadic)
Al Shuraifat ,,
Al Zuhairiyah „
J a warm „
Rafi‘ah
Humaid al ‘Arab „
Bani Kliaiqan confederation
Mujarrah confederation
Albu Salih confederation
The many but little known wandering tribes who
inhabit the desert land lying between the Tigris,
the Gharraf, the Bad‘ah River and Hammar Lake.
Ajwad.
Titular head,
Zamil al Manna‘.
Bani Malik.
Titular head,
Badr al Rumaiyidh
(deposed).
Bani SaTd.
Titular heads,
‘Ulaiwi al Mirhij,
Sikar al Na‘mah.
Note. —The Arabs distinguish between the three groups by calling the
Ajwad and Bani Sa‘id, “ Arab,” as compared with the Bani Malik who are
termed “ Ma‘dan.”
For ^strength of fighting men of the Muntafiq see Appendix Q, which also
shows Bam Malik in detail.
(c) Religion. With the exception of the Dhafir and Jasham, who are Sunni
ah the Muntafiq tribes are Shi‘ahs.
(d) General Characteristics. —All are extremely warlike by nature They are
very jealous of their freedom, and take pride in their boast that they are a fighting
race and not given to doing manual labour such as coolie work. The only work to
which they attach no disgrace is ploughing their fields. Doing coolie work for
Government is an abomination for them, and is considered by ah as greatly lowering
to their dignity ! his pride of race is particularly marked among the Shatrah
Aasmyah and Suq tribes. The Qal‘at Sikar tribes are not quite so particular.’
hven m their case, however, it is on record that at A.P.O. QaTat Sikar’s reouest
of about T d fr ° m , Q f^. Sikar to the Rabi‘ah boundary (Kut), a distance
about ^0 miles, they made faz ah m their thousands, completed the road but
refused to take any money payment; pleading that they were soldiers and’had
oTa nar with k cn S r SUCh ’R d ‘mS' 1 they t0 ° k m0ney ’ the y would P ut themselves
on a par with coolies and hired labourers.
manna, bhonr^ Muntafit l wili uever allow their women to do any
SW O t b )?em 1 P ‘ S N u, p0n aS i eVen a greater dis g ra oe than the men working.
Some ot them however, notably certain sections of the Khafajah and Humaid
do not object to going to Basrah and working for Government there, and also are
not above picking and packing dates.
4 < e) TR Fighting Qualities of the Muntafiq tribes have always been renowned.
M - ™ the PanTte r, 18 A reco f nised that their most' stubborn fighters
The reasonTs nott’r t comethe Ajwad, and, thirdly, the Bani Sa‘id and Dhafir.
1 lie reason is not far to seek. I he semi-nomads of the Aiwad tvoe who havp npvpr
hkTthe°Bani Maii, d "h F ffT* 1 t0 n ght “ the sam « stubborn manner as men
when defend^ ^Tnme andS ° Se 'i T nverseI y> j ust as the latter is so renowned
dttTnl H d e^ 8 is h whe?r t h ’ a ? am ’ h ® becom f unless when asked to fight at a
he can never stomach hut m, " llouia ^ much more at home. A desperate battle
from home The Sa‘dnn I, ^ a w . a '. s ready for an ordinary “ scrap,” however far
anTcan the J h tlJr ‘J*'"’ who ? e .°P lni< > n ^valuable, dread the Bani Malik the most,