64 THE NATIVE MANUSCRIPTS iv. ab. xi.
and which of them is the best : it also explains our connection with the Prophet, upon whom be the blessings of God, in that Hashim
ibn 'Abd Menaf is our common ancestor, and our lineage as far back as 'Adnan.
XII The second chapter explains the duty of studying the profitable
part of genealogical records, and shows what part of them is un- profitable.
XIII There is also an appendix giving the rule concerning the observance of ties of blood-relationship.
XIV The third chapter gives the descendants of our ancestor the feki Bishara el Gharbawi and shows how they are related to him.
XV There is also an appendix concerning our ancestor, the feki Bishara, himself.
XVI The fourth chapter contains a warning against overweening
pride in one's forefathers. XVII There is also an appendix explaining how the learned and pious man is better than he of noble descent unless the latter be also learned and pious.
XVIII The fifth chapter gives some account of the tribes of the Arabs and Ga'al el Dufar.
XIX There is also an appendix giving the pedigree of my maternal
grandfather el Hag Muhammad walad Bishara to el Sayyid el 'Abbas, and his connection with the Prophet, upon whom be the blessings
of God, through having Hashim ibn 'Abd Menaf as a common an-
cestor, and the continuation of his pedigree as far as 'Adnan. XX And now it is time to commence laying before you the result of the work I have done by the help of the Lord of all honour and
eternity : so in the name of God, and placing my trust in God and his Prophet, I begin as follows.
{Here follows Chapter /, a disquisition concerning the honour that
accrues to one that traces his descent to el ^ Abbas: zh pages are omitted in the translation; and then occurs the following , i.e. para, xxi, etc.)
XXI Now as regards the seed of el Sayyid el 'Abbas, God bless him, the genealogists mention that he had two sons, el Fadl and 'Abdulla,
God bless them. The truth, however, is that el Sayyid el 'Abbas had ten sons and three daughters ; namely el Fadl and 'Abdulla and
'ObayduUa and Mushir' and 'Abd el Rahman and Ma'abad and el Harith and Kathir and '(3f and Tamam and Amna and Um Habib and Safia.
XXII After exhaustive search I have not found that el Sayyid Fadl had any children except Um Kulthum: the bulk of the tribe [are
^ reading j-t-« for^5.