184 CIVIL HISTORY AND 



which have settlements in Irak, and make frequent 

 plundering incursions into the Hauran. The greater 

 part of the country extending from Kasym to Me- 

 dina is occupied by the Beni Harb, who have also 

 possessions on the coast from Yembo down to Jidda 

 and Leith. In summer they migrate to Palestine 

 and Mount Lebanon, on the summits of which they 

 pitch their tents and feed their cattle. From the 

 aggregate of this formidable race, there might per- 

 haps be reckoned a body comprising between 30,000 

 and 40,000 men armed with matchlocks ; and such 

 is the numerical strength of their main tribes, that 

 each of them is rather to be considered as a distinct 

 clan. Among their branches extending to the east 

 and south of Medina, are the Mezeyne, the Beni Sa- 

 far, Beni Ammer, El Hamede, Beni Salem, Sobh, El 

 Owf, and Dwy Daher. The Sheik of El Hamede 

 is at present considered as chief of all the Beni Harb; 

 to the Sobh belong the town and district of Bedr, 

 where a market is held, at which some of them are 

 wont to sit during the whole day in their small shops, 

 and in the evening they mount their camels and re- 

 turn to their families in the Desert. 



The principal station of the Zebeyde tribe is to the 

 north of Jidda ; but, as their country is in general 

 poor, they are obliged to seek for other means of 

 subsistence than what can be derived from pasture 

 alone. Many of them are active fishermen, and 

 serve as sailors and pilots to ships navigating the Red 

 Sea. A certain number have established themselves 

 in this capacity on the Shut el Arab below Bagdad. 

 In consequence of their commercial pursuits the 

 other Harbs look upon them with disdain. 



The excellent pasture-ground about Tai'f, and the 





