Roger Upton on horses of the Ma’naqi strain with the Sba’ah ‘Anazah

I confess being terribly late in acquainting myself with some of foundational Arabian horse literature in English. Roger Upton’s “Gleanings from the Desert of Arabia” is one of those books I had not read, save for passages here and there. I am happy I found a searchable version of it online, and I am having fun searching for specific words in it. Below are Upton’s quotes on the “Manakhi” strain (his spelling).

On the Ma’naqi strain (page 328-9):

Of the Manakhi. The Manakhi appeared to us a favourite strain, for both horses and mares of this family are to be found in most tribes of Badaween; and we thought, with the exception of Keheilet Ajuz, there were more horses and mares among the Anazah, certainly among the Sabaah, of the Manakhi family than any other. Manakhi means Keheilans or Arabian horses descended from the “long-necked one.” Manakhi Hedruj is the chief variety, and although I am not sure, I think it is the parent family, and the others are not collateral, but offshoots from Manakhi Hedruj. I think Hedruj means of majestic appearance: thus Manakhi Hedruj, ” the horses of the long necks of majestic appearance.”* A family in the Sabaah Anazah of the name of Ibn Esbeyl is noted for their horses of the Manakhi Hedruj family, and we were informed that three other families — Abu Gheideli, Abu Hordjeli, and Stagi** — have remarkably fine strains of the Manakhi Hedruj, all derived from that of Ibn Esbeyl family. The blood of the Manakhi family is to be found very generally amongst most Badaween tribes, but Manakhi Hedruj ibn Esbeyl is a select Anazah strain, similar in relationship to Manaki Hedruj as .Seklawi-Jedran ibn Nederi*** is to the Seklawi-Jedran. The Manakhi is a fine family undoubtedly (Page 328-329).

* Hudruj is a person’s name, whatever it means

** Read “Slaji” instead of “Staji”

*** Read “Ibn ed-Derri” instead of “Ibn Nederi”

On specific horses from that strain, page 351:

There was a nice clean-made, lengthy, useful, and racing-like dark grey three-year-old filly of the Manakhi Hedruj family, which belonged to Shaykh Jedaan ibn Mahaid. There were four mares of Suleyman ibn Mirshid picketed in front of his tent, the best of which he considered to be the bluish-grey (Azzrak) mare, four or five years old. She was also of the Manakhi Hedruj family, and stood about fourteen hands three inches high ; she was well formed all over, and looked like making a grand mare. Her back, loins, and quarters were her leading points perhaps ; she had a good and very nice head and neck; the head had great development above, but was without the accompaniment of a very small muzzle. One fore leg was slightly twisted. There were also two other mares of the Manakhi Hedruj strain, both chestnut, very bloodlike, with beautiful shoulders. Both were blemished, and one had lost an eye ; but they were very beautiful.