ABSTRACT
ALTHOUGH a large-scale tribal war, involving hostilities between rival sheikhs, has not occurred in the Trucial Oman territory since 1940, occasional raids by nomadic tribes take place from time to time. These affairs are very different from tribal wars, and usually not more than fifty men are engaged in a village raid. A night is chosen when the moon is in the first quarter, since this gives them sufficient light to reach their objective, yet makes it easy for them to conceal themselves. At midnight, or in the early hours of dawn, the raiders will steal towards the outskirts of the town or village they intend to attack, tethering their camels in the shadow of a building or clump of palms. The nearest houses will be raided first, and any slaves, children, livestock or goods and chattels they find will be carried off. Sometimes a woman's screams will give the alarm, and the sheikh's guards rush to the spot before the raiders have time to get away. A pitched battle in the desert then takes place, no quarter being given by either side. Most raids are so carefully planned beforehand, however, that the raiders often escape with their booty before the alarm can be raised.
