The people now occupying the Arabian penin sula are, however, regarded by Captain Burton as of three distinct races, viz, the aborigines of the country, who have been driven, like the Bhils and other autochthonic Indians, into the eastern and south-eastern wilds bordering upon the ocean ; second, a Syrian or Mesopotamian stock, typified by Shem and Joktau, that drove the indigence from the choicest tracts of country ; these in vaders still enjoy their conquests, representing the great Arabian people. And, thirdly, an im pure Egypto-Arab clan, well personified by Ishmael, his son Nebajoth, and Edom (Esau, the son of Isaac), that still populates the Sinaitic peninsula. The mdigens or autochthones, he says, are those sub-Caucasian tribes which may still be met with in the province of Mahrah, and generally along the coast between Muscat and Hadramaut. The Mahrah, the Jenabah, and the Cara especially show a low development. These are Arab-ul Aribah, for whose inferiority oriental fable accounts as usual by thaumaturgy. Dr. Carter also has remarked on the similarity between the lowest type of Bedouin and the indigens of India, as represented by the Bhils and other jungle races. The principal immigrant race, lie says, are the Noachian, a great Chaldmau or Mesopotamian clan, which entered Arabia about B.C. 2200, and by slow and gradual encroachments drove before them the ancient race, and seized the happier lands of the peninsula. This race would corre spond with the Arab-el-Muta-Aribah or Arabicized Arabs of the eastern historians. The third family, an ancient and noble stock, dating from B.C. 1900, and typified in history by Ismael, still occupies the Sinaitic peninsula.
In Arabia there are several powerful nations, practically independent, though the emperor of Turkey claims to be their suzerain. But the great bulk of the population are in tribes, ruled by shaikhs or chiefs of their own election, chiefly pastoral and nomade, many of them predatory, with smaller tribes clinging around the larger for protection. Around Jerusalem are the Anezi, Shammar, Mowali, and Salhan.
The Shamr or Shammar is a great and powerful tribe of Bedouin Arabs who inhabit the N. part of the Al-Jazira province of the pashalik of Baghdad, and extend all over Mesopotamia. They pay no tribute, arc greatly predatory, and have so thrown the beautiful lands of the Al-Jaziras out of cultiva tion, that it is literally a desert. They came from Nejd, about the beginning of the 19th century, under the leadership of Farez-ibn-Unir-ibn-Mu hammad-ibn Abdul Aziz, and the country they occupy is now called Jazirat-ibn-Farez. They have ten divisions, which have 1000 tents. There are also ten Bedouin and Fellaheen tribes subject to them, mustering 13,500 tents, with 81,000 souls.
The Shammar Jerbeh tribe wander in Irak, all over N. Mesopotamia, from S. of Sinjar and the
Khabur river to the Saklawiyeh canal, W. of Baghdad. They are. the terror of the Turkish authorities and people.
The Shammar Togha tribe wander about the Diyaleb river, as far as Kut-ul-Amareh, and from the E. bank of the Tigris to Nahrwan. They have ten families, have about 200 matchlocks or guns, and 700 horsemen. Their war-cry is Sinaaish.
The Daasur families have 210 tents.
The Daour tribe number 300 guns and 300 horsemen, and, when at feud with the Shammar Togha, they cross to the W. of the Tigris, and settle near Shirsh and Shedhayf.
In Mesopotamia are the following tribes :— Abdeh, a Bedouin tribe in N. Mesopotamia, with 2000 families. They are under the Shammar.
Al bu Asi, a Fellahecn Arab tribe of 500 tents in the N. part of Mesopotamia, round Nisibin.
Near the Zab river are the Ash Shawan, Al Bakr, and Al Tai, with 700 tents. They are pastoral and predatory.
Amud, a Bedouin tribe of Arabs of about 700 tents, in the N. part of Mesopotamia, on the banks of the Jaghjagha river.
Khureseh, a Bedouin Arab tribe near Nisibin, in N. Mesopotamia, with 800 tents and 13,500 souls, tributary to the Shamr.
Thabet, a tribe of Bedouin Arabs who inhabit the N. portion of Mesopotamia. They have 1000 tents, and are subject to the Shamr.
Kikia, a Turkoman tribe in N. Mesopotamia, from Mardin. to Veran Shahr, numbering 1000 tents. They are the descendants of the old Artokide kings.
Milia, a Turkoman tribe occupying the extreme N. part of Mesopotamia, from Marlin to Veran Shahr. They number 600 families. They 1. subject to the Shamr Arab.
The Baiat or Al-Beyat, a Turkoman tribe 300 tents, W. of Kifri, who can turn out 101 horsemen. Nadir Shah swept away the bulk the Baiat to Khorasan.
Al bit Selman, 200 tents, of Zab al Kab and the Al bu Hamad of Eski Mosul, are pastor. and predatory.
Beni Zid, 100 tenth, of Eski Kifri, are pastor. and agricultural.
The Zobeid is a great and powerful tribe i Mesopotamia, S. of the Saklawiyeh canal as fa the Ajaf marshes, partly pomade and predatory partly settled and agricultural, on the E. and W of the Euphrates, about the Hindiyeh. The: have 1750 tents, and can muster 500 horse an( 600 foot with fire-arms. Their war-cry is Jeheysh and their chiefs are descended fro•Abdallah, o Himentm descent, the Himentm of Ptolemy.
Dhitryr, a tribe of Bedouin Arabs, in the deser about the Montafik territory W. of the Euphrate: They are predatory, and cross the Tigris to ley: contributions as far as Badrai and Mendali, am aid the Montafik.
Near the rivers Tigris, Euphrates, and Hye ar the following tribes :— Kojami, a savage, ferocious, wild tribe of 1001 families, W. of Urumia and Selmast, in the moun tainous country at the source of the Tigris. The are Christians.
Tokahi, a wild tribe about the source of th Tigris. They are Christians.