George P. Tabet’s “Arabian Horse Lineages” booklet

Georges Philippe Tabet’s short booklet “Arabian Horse Lineages” (Ansaab al-Khayl al-Arabiyah, Dar al-Ahad, Beirut, June 1937, 56 pages in both Arabic and French) features a long list of Arabian horse strains. This is the “yellow booklet” I mentioned in an earlier entry.

The list is different from lists of Western travelers — Blunt, Upton, Raswan, etc — I have seen before. It is also different from Ali al-Barazi’s equally comprehensive list. They would benefit from a thorough comparison with each other. Tabet mentions the Bedouins as the source of his information in the introduction to the book. He wrote:

Faced with this state of ignorance, I decided to turn to the source of the breeding of the Arab horse — the people of the Badia — until after much effort, I was able to know the reasons for these terms [the strains] and what differentiates them from each other.

The list has minor errors, which I will be noting in the comments sections over the coming days. Most errors are of two sorts: spelling errors resulting from differences between how Bedouins and settled people pronounce some Arabic letters, and the attribution of the wrong tribal affiliations to some strain owners, especially those from the distant tribes in Najd.

The list is heavily tilted towards the ‘Anazah in general. Sba’ah ‘Anazah strains are the most represented. The information on strains with the Gmassah and ‘Abdah sections of the Sba’ah is particularly accurate. The summer pastures of these tribes were in the outskirts of Hama and Homs, where Tabet had his estate. Strains from the Fad’aan ‘Anazah are also well represented, followed by those from the ‘Amarat and the Ruwallah.

On the other hand, strains from the Shammar, which is the other large other North Arabian tribe are under-represented. There is good representation of Mawali strains. Strains from tribes in Central and Eastern Arabia are virtually missing. Most of Tabet’s informants seem to have hailed from the Sba’ah, or from Hamawi and Homsi experts who interacted with them.

Kahaayil to be mated:

Kuhaylan al-‘Ajuz, with Ibn Dabsi of the Fad’aan

K. al-Suwayti, with Wuld Sulayman of the Fad’aan

K. al-Hayfi, with Ibn Hubayshan of the Fad’aan

K. al-Kharas, with Bani al-Fnayss of al-Rhamah of the Gmassah, and with Ibn Hamdan and Ibn Tamran of the ‘Amaraat

K. al-Tamri, with al-Muharwal of the Gmassah, and Ibn Rushud of the Gmassah

K. Abu Janub, with Abu Janab of the Bani Sakhr, and from him to Ibn Daghman of the ‘Arafah and Waddass al-Misrab of the Gmassah

K. al-Mimrah, with al-Maryuf of the Arabs of al-Dhafir, and from him to al-Mimrah of the Gmassah, and from him to Ibn Haash then to Ibn ‘Udaynan of the Gmassah and to al-Drayb of the Gmassah

K. al-Jrayshi or al-Wati, with Rushayd ibn Jarshan of al-Mutayr in ‘Iraq then to al-Wati of al-‘Abdah of the Gmassah

K. al-Nawwaq, with al-Nawwaq of al-Rasaalin of al-Gasim of the Gmassah

K. Abu Krush, she came from al-Manaakid of the Ruwalah to Sabkhah al-Sani’ of the Fad’aan and to Ibn Sarada of al-Juffal of the Fad’aan

K. Abu Surayr, with Abu Hadbaat of the ‘Amaraat

K. al-Musinn, with Ibn ‘Amaayir of the Fad’aan

K. al-Ghazalah, with Ibn ‘Ashwan of the Dhafir, then to al-Zalhubi of al-Sahim of the Gmassah and from him to Shtaawi of the Gmassah

K. Abu ‘Arqub al-Hadb, with al-Hadb of the Huwaytaat

K. Abu ‘Arqub Shuwayhah, from al-Hadb to al-Shu’aili of al-Dawam of the Sba’ah

K. al-Khdili, from al-Khrisah of the Fad’aan to Ibn Munayhah and Ibn ‘Ajlan of the Fad’aan

K. al-Dunaysi, with Ibn Dakhiin of the Gmassah and Ibn Hindi of al-Dawaam of the Sba’ah

K. al-Nkhayshi, from al-Murabbat of al-Masaaribah of the Gmassah

K. Tuwaisaan ‘Alkami, from the Ruwalah

Kahaayil not to be mated:

K. al-Jawharah, with the Ruwalah

K. Abu ‘Arqub Wushitshi, with the Ruwalah

K. al-Nkayshi, that specific to Ibn Rumman of al-Masaaribah of the Gmassah

K. al-Shnaynan, with al-Duhayri of al-Masaalikh and from him to Ibn Mirshid of the Gmassah

K. ‘Anz al-Dawish, with Shammar

K. Abu ‘Irf [Edouard note: i.e., Abu Ma’arif]

K. Rawdan, with the Ruwalah [Edouard: i.e., Rodan]

K. al-Shaykhan, with Ibn Duwayhi of the Fad’aan

K. al-Mandil

K. al-Jrayban, with al-Ja’ri of al-Mawaayigah of al-‘Abdah of the Sba’ah

K. al-Tkhayran, with Ibn Fnaytiil of al-Rasalin of al-Gmassah

K. al-Na’aam

K. al-Mash-hur

K. al-Sharif or al-Sbayli, with al-Nawwaq of al-Gasim of the Gmassah

K. al-Mukhalladi, with al-Qadi of Bani Khalid

K. Ras al-Fdawi, with the Ruwalah

K. al-Hazaqan, with al-Hazqawi of al-Masaaribah of the Gmassah

Shuwaymaat to be mated:

Shuwayman Sabbah, with Ibn Nabuwwah of the Gmassah

Shuwaymaat not to be mated:

Shuwayman Wudaytish, with Ibn Rakyan of the ‘Amaraat

Ma’aniq to be mated:

Ma’naqi Hadraji, with Ibn Mu’tish of the ‘Amaraat

Ma’naqi Sbayli, from the Hadrajiyat to Ibn Sbayyil of al-‘Ajlan of al-Rasaalin of the Sba’ah

Ma’naqi Abu Kudlah, with Abu Kudlah of the Gmassah

Ma’naqi al-Damnaan, with Ibn Damnaan of al-Mawaahib of the Gmassah

[In the French version of the list]: The Ma’naqi Sbayli, the Ma’naqi Abu Kudlah, and the Ma’naqi al-Damnaan are all derived from the Hadraji

Ma’aniq not to be mated:

Ma’naqi Shlaji

Ma’naqi al-Aqraa, with the Shawayah and the Fad’aan

Ma’naqi Al-Baraahiim, with the Na’im

Ma’naqi al-Arnab, with the ‘Amaraat

Jilaf to be mated:

Jilfan al-Dhawah, with the Fad’aan

Jilfan Sattaam al-Bulad, the ‘Amaraat and the Fad’aan

‘Ubayyaat to be mated:

‘Ubayyan Sharraq, with the Dhafir in Najd [in the French version: and from him to Ibn Samdan of the Gmassah]

‘Ubayyan Ibn Samdan, with Ibn Samdan (the Gmassah)

‘Ubayyan al-‘Awbali or al-Hunaydiis, with the ‘Amaraat and al-Mawaayigah of the Sba’ah

‘Ubayyan al-Suhayli, with Shammar and al-Rasaalin of the Sba’ah

‘Ubayyan al-Huwaynah, with Ibn ‘Alyan of the Gmassah. Her origin is from Bani Sakhr [in the French version: from the Bani Sakhr and from them to Ibn ‘Alyane from the Gmassah]

‘Ubayyan Abu Jurayss, with al-Mir’ib of the Rwallah

‘Ubayyan Fadayhah/Fahiihah, with Fudayhah of the Fad’aan

‘Ubayyan Hummarah, with Salamah al-Nu’aymi of al-Mawaayigah of the Sba’ah

‘Ubayyan al-Khraish, with Ibn Marzuq of the Amaraat

‘Ubayyaat not to be mated:

‘Ubayyan al-Shuhaym, with the Shawaya

‘Ubayyan Libdah, with al-Mawaahib of the Sb’aah

‘Ubayyan al-Duray’i, with the Jayss

‘Ubayyan al-Khudr, with Ramadaan al-Fguigui

‘Ubayyan Kharma, with the Hssinah

‘Ubayyan Daan al-Dib, with al-Jamajimi of the Mawali

‘Ubayyah Munayhiizh, with Ibn Shibib of the Gmassah

Hudb to be mated

Hadban Inzahi with Ibn ‘Ammar of the Sba’ah

Hadbdan Mushaytib, with al-‘Uwayr of the Gmassah

Hudb not to ne mated

Hadban al-Fard, with ‘Ulwah of the Sba’ah

Hadban al-Fawa’irah, with al-Fawa’irah

Saqlawiyaat to be mated:

Saqlawi Jadran, with Ibn Jadran of the Ruwalah

S. Sh’ayfi, with Ibn ‘Amud of the Shammar

S. Zubayni, with Sahij ibn Zubaynah of the Fad’aan

S. al-‘Abd, with Abu Na’ l of the Frijah of the Ruwalah

S. al-‘Ajrafi/’Ujrufi/’Ejrefi, goes back to Saqlawi al-‘Abd [in the French version: with Turki Ibn Najriss of the ‘Aqaydat]

S. Wubayri, with the Ruwalah

S. Najmat al-Subh, with the ‘Amaraat

S. al-Habtari, with Ibn ‘Ulwah of al-Mawaayigah of the Sba’ah

Saqlawiyaat not to be mated:

S. Rujaymi, with the ‘Amaraat

S. al-Buwayri, with the Ruwalah

S. al-Habtari, with the clan of Banat al-Furrah of the Sba’ah [in the French version: Banat al-Ghurrah]

Dahmaat to be mated:

Dahman Shahwan, with Ibn Hayaazi’ of the ‘Amaaraat

D. ‘Amir, from Ibn Himsi and from to Ibn Tuwayrish of the Gmassah

D. Ma’ajil, with Ibn Ma’ajil of the Gmassah

Rishaat to be mated:

Rishan Shar’abi, with al-Shar’abi of al-Hujjaj of Bani Sakhr

Rishaat not to be mated:

Rishan ‘Ajarrashi

Rishan Jarbu’i

Rishan ‘Alkami [missing from the French version]

Rishan Jnah al-Tair

Samhaat to be mated:

Samhan Qumay’i, with Ibn Fayiz of Bani Sakhr

Samhaat not to be mated:

Samhan Shufay’i with Ibn Mukhayt of the Gmassah

Hamdaniyaat to be mated:

Hamdani Simri, with Ibn Ghurab of Shammar and with Hasan Shaykho of al-Jayss

Hamdani ‘Efri, with Ibn al-‘Ifri of the ‘Amaraat

Hamdaniyaat not to be mated:

Hamdani al-Garn, with Shammar

Hamdani al-Kuway’i, with Ibn Qunayfid of the Fad’aan [in the French version: al-Kuwati]

Kbayshaat to be mated:

Kbayshaan Zafifi, with Ibn al-Su’ud and the ‘Amaraat

Kbayshaat not to be mated:

Kbayshaan Mashlah/Mushallah, with the Mawali

Kbayshaan Jaqmah, with the Huwaitaat

Kbayshaan ‘Amaami

Sa’d not to be mated

Sa’dan Tuqan, with the Mawali

Sa’dan al-Hassun, with the Mawali

Sa’dan al-Najr, with the Mawali

Rubd to be mated

Rabdan Khushaybi from Najd

Rubd not to be mated

Rabdan al-Razni from Najd

Not to be mated:

Wudayhan al-Khawaawir

Frayjan, with the Frijah of the Ruwalah

Khallawiyaat to be mated

Khallawiyaat of the Ruwalah

Khallawiyaat not to be mated

Khallawiyaat al-Niswaan with the Mawali

Mlayhaat to be mated

Mlayhaan Shahm al-Raass, with Shammar and the Mawali

Ju’aytiniyaat to be mated:

Ju’aytini, with al-Fliti, the Shaykh of al-Frijah of the Ruwalah

Zanda’iyaaat, not to be mated

Zanda’i, with Muhammad al-Kahil of the ‘Umur

Bu’ayraat, not to be mated

Bu’ayri