Chapter One: The Dawudiya Tribes The chief of the last branch was Ali bin Ubayd, who succeeded his father, who died young. Following a new Arab migration at the beginning of the sixteenth century, the three branches descended together from southern Morocco towards Adrar [of dates] and pitched their tents around Timbuktu, which was then the capital of Upper Mauritania. However, the peace between these branches was not long-lasting; within a few years, the Ahl Ubayd group separated from their brethren and returned to the Draa Valley. There were three distinct camps: the Betti Tissin, the Bani Shiyal, and the Bani Timbuktu, who were called the Sannibat. The Ahl Ubayd settled in the region inhabited by the Awlad al-Mulatt, a tribe that still exists by this name in southern Morocco. It gained fame in recent times due to its battles with the rebel [Sheikh] Abidin. They formed alliances with the Awlad al-Mulatt and strengthened their ties through numerous marriages. Many considered their assimilation to be imminent, as the agreement remained firm for five generations, led by Ali bin Ubayd, then his son Al-Nah (Al-Siddiq), then Ubbad bin Al-Nah, then Ahmad, nicknamed Kuhl, bin Ubbad, then Ubayd bin Ahmad Kuhl. However, during the leadership of Khalifa bin Ubayd, the majority of the Ahl Ubayd separated from the sons of al-Mulatt and migrated to Azawad. They are the ancestors of the Talamz tribe. Tents from the Sannibat and Bani Shiyal camped under the leadership of Bilbil, the elder uncle of Khalifa, who did not like staying with their cousins, the Ahl Abi, about whom we will speak later. Finally, two tents separated: one from the Sannibat and the other, the tent of Al-Waddani bin Ubbad bin Al-Nah, separated from the tribe and joined the Kenta. As for the last two branches of the early Talamz, the Ahl al-Tuwaylib and the Ahl Abi, they remained in Timbuktu and formed marital ties with the people of this city and entered their wars until they were devastated. Both were forced to disperse, continuing their jokes even in times of hardship. Eventually, both groups joined the righteous man [Marabout] Sidi Mahmoud, around whom a large gathering of Muslim disciples, known as the Ibbaktat (mid-eighteenth century), had gathered. The Ahl al-Tuwaylib and the Ahl Abi were able to re-establish their alliance under his blessing, but discord soon arose between them when the Marabout [Sidi Mahmoud] appointed a general chief over the two branches, who was the son of al-Tuwaylib, or at least one of his descendants. The Ahl Abi did not accept this decision and left the nascent tribe of Ahl Sidi Mahmoud. After a long period, they were forced to return to the vicinity of their brethren and acknowledged the leadership of the Ahl al-Tuwaylib, and did not separate from them thereafter, before the land was recovered.