Al Mansouri Ethnography - Essay Example

AL MANSOURI ETHNOGRAPHY: Al Mansouri is basically the of a tribe and people claiming to belong to this particular tribe are called Manaseer. Most of the people of this tribe even now follow the nomadic lifestyle in the present age and only a small percentage of people have left such a lifestyle to follow a more stable or permanent living standard. People belonging to this tribe who have left the nomadic life style behind them now live in a town near Dubai which is also adjacent to the vast desert. Manaseer basically lead a very quiet life and do not appear to be highly social, extrovert, or vivacious when it comes to dealing with outright strangers. Around 2000 men appear to be belonging from this tribe and all of them prefer living their lives in a significantly quiet way than anything else. Though the majority of Manaseer live a nomadic life but those who have opted for a more worldly lifestyle are mostly found committed to professions like simple farming or more expansive trading with neighboring communities. The Al Mansouri tribe is distinguished among others in respect that it serves as ancestor of many other tribes scattered all over Arab. As it may also be considered as an ancestral tribe, so the stories associated with this tribe and circulating in the surrounding also appear to exist in a staggering number. There is one literature story that the tribe or group was awarded the name or title of Mounsair because of the fact that it had won multiple wars very bravely in the ancient times and faced many difficult times very fearlessly. Now, the main areas where they are seen residing in majority include Abu Dhabi Emirate and Dubai Emirate. In each of these emirates, they are seen residing in minority and in small groups. This is because Al Mansouri is not a very large tribe and presently no more than some 2000 men are included in this groups, as already mentioned. Now, when even this much small group is divided into still smaller subgroups residing in different emirates, than these subgroups are out shadowed by other communities which have so many people. Most of the stories or literature about this tribe also has its roots in the ancient times and no recent historical documents are available to be read about Manaseer and their whereabouts. That is why it become difficult to differentiate between the valid and invalid stories. Now the majority of Manaseer happen to be nomads, raise sheep and cattle, and do not possess very large herds as they constantly keep moving from place to place. Such a rough lifestyle forms hallmark of the Manaseer people and they are mainly found depending on their camels to move their luggage across the desert to Qatar mostly. Migration along with herds and luggage mainly occurs as the winter season commences. Then on their way back from Qatar, some of the Al Mansouri groups settle down in Alujajh and others in Ghuwafait for a transitory time period. They do not prefer residing temporarily in the Myotic marsh on their way to and from Qatar because the water available there is only suitable for watering the camels and that water is not good for the use of humans. Water holds utmost important in the nomadic living style and areas in which water is unsuitable do not remain inhabited. Therefore, Manaseer do not prefer living in areas where water is not abundant and unsuitable for them and their animals. That is why the region named Al Dhafra, where Manaseer start their migration from to Qatar mostly, happens to be fraught with small wells with sweet water. This place is also considered to be an oasis and contains plants and dates that people eat enjoyably. Dates form the main food consumed by Manaseer and are found abundantly in this area as it is an oasis with a lot of wells. This place also suits the elderly and sick people who are often weak and need a proper place for some rest. Among the Al Mansouri group, the stable people are known as the Bani Yas people who reside in one particular area for a longer time than regular Manaseer people who keep moving from place to place frequently. The Bani Yas people form a very stable group and make a lot of associations by socializing and mingling with other communities in the surroundings, mostly by way of selling palm trees which they farm on a large scale. Such a trading business also makes this group more stable in financial terms in comparison to other groups who typically live as nomads. They also engage themselves in other worldly things like water sports and feel enjoyment in sea diving and using ships to sail in the gulf, especially in the summer time. Al Bu mercy is another subgroup of the main tribe Al Mansouri and lives in other sandy areas, mainly deserts. Trading is the main occupation of this group also and they socialize extensively and form associations with Westerners who are seen in the western part of the Myotic marsh. Al Bomendihir is another subgroup and forms one of the three main divisions of Al Mansouri tribe. They are found to have associations with Benohn and Nape Bank. Trading happens to be the main occupation of the stable Manaseer people who do not prefer living as nomads. All these subgroups are united under one name, Al Mansouri family and call themselves Manaseer. One source derived from ancient literature suggests that the name of the tribe came from Mansour bin Qais but the validity of this source is still widely speculated. There are also some manuscripts related to Manaseer which tell different stories about them. Jaoualqo manuscript is one such example which contains writings concerning Mansourieh who supposedly ruled the Manaseer people from sometime. That is also why the Mansourieh town is named after them and which also served as birthplace of Hussein bin Mansour bin Rahal who ruled the Mansourieh. He and his known are told to be very generous people according to the manuscript. Some other tales and events narrated and documented in the ancient manuscripts suggest that the Manaseer people left Qatif due to certain conflicts which compelled them to leave that area and migrate to some other place which would have lots of water, dates, and greenery. Jabour Albertgliyn was one such man who had to leave the Qatif area and sent on search for a good area to live in. He found abundant availability of water and other things in Masir area due to which they took the name Manaseer. Hence, many stories exist concerning the origin of the tribe’s name. The ancient literature also suggests that the Al Mansouri tribe has its roots in Portsmouth where the Arabs got their first victory in a battle. There in Arabian Peninsula also occurred blending of different tribes making up one united name, Al Mansouri. Some of the people then migrated to the Gulf region where they are seen presently living as minorities. The change in the composition of this tribe is largely associated with the fact that people from other regions moved in and some moved away from this area. The history of the Manaseer people dates back to the 15th century when their ancestors used to live in the Gulf, but their roots can be traced back to the 10th century Hijra as well. The Manaseer people always existed in minorities and were rarely ever seen in abundance. Read More