Niebhur on the Sharif of Mecca in Najd in 1763-1766

Chapter II: of the Province of Nedsjed

“The Bedouins inhabit a great part of the province. The remainder is mountainous, full of cities and villages, and parcelled out among so many petty sovereigns, that almost every little town has its own Schiech (i.e., Shaykh). Formerly, when the power of the Sherriffes was at its height, many of these Schiech, who were situate in the vicinity of Hedsjas, were obliged to pay tribute to the Sherriffe of Mecca. At present, they pay nothing”.

Source: TRAVELS THROUGH ARABIA,AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE EAST, PERFORMED BY M. NIEBUHR, NOW A CAPTAIN OF ENGINEERS IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING OF DENMARK. TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY ROBERT HERON WITH NOTES BY THE TRANSLATOR; AND ILLUSTRATED WITH ENGRAVINGS AND MAPS. IN TWO VOLUMES. EDIMBURGH, 1792.