Zabez

Zabez (also recorded as Thabeeth, Thabeth, Zaabez, or Zabeth) is a village in Gilman municipality on Marbaa' in Yap State of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Zabez is located at approximately 9.454817948 latitude and 138.0586456 longitude and is associated with the polling area of Anoth.

A cultural site known as Maseein is located approximately 1.10 km from the village area. Several fish weirs are associated with the village area, including Fann Beynag, Fann Maalang, and Fann Magar. The Nimgil CHC (Community Health Center) is located approximately 0.87 km from the village area. A bridge is located approximately 0.46 km from the village.

Caste and class

Zabez is classified within the Yapese system of ranked villages associated with Tabinaw as Caste I, Class 4 (I–4–A).

This places Zabez among the higher-ranking villages within the traditional Yapese political hierarchy.

Population and settlement

In Jane Hainline Underwood’s demographic survey of Yap during the 1960s, Zabez was recorded with a population of 68 residents occupying approximately 97.77 acres of land.

The village had the largest recorded population within Gilman municipality during the survey period, accounting for more than one-third of the municipality’s total population. Zabez formed part of the southern Gilman coastal village sequence together with nearby settlements including Muruuru, Towawai, Anoth, and Guror.

Village setting

Modern place-name and administrative records consistently identify Zabeth/Zabez as one of the principal villages of Gilman municipality.

Although the village occupied a relatively modest land area compared to some neighboring settlements, demographic records indicate that it supported one of the most concentrated residential populations within the southern Gilman peninsula area during the mid-twentieth century.

Part of the village area forms the Gilman municipal boundary.