Near Haradrim referred to the various tribes of northern Haradwaith who were closer to Gondor in general, the Shagâni, including the Umbari, Ikorbâni, Narakshi or much earlier the Harûze, including the Urdwán, and the Sakalai, Lugalim and Ielút. They were also generally called Hârns or Harwan.
In contrast to the people of Far Harad they were often smaller and a bit less dark skinned and spoke Haradaic or Haradron, which was still considered formally a southern dialect of Westron with strong native elements. The trade languages of Far Harad and the utter South rather were New Apysan, Tazinain and Ansith. Also the cults and sects of north and south Harad could differ vastly, indigenous cults of Near Harad included the cults of Khaz-Gramaze, the Cult of the dark lady and the Order of Tûthmeid under the Temple of the Allseeing and smaller groups like the Sisters of Îshtra or the adherents of Malíciam and Kesht which were later considered heretics. In southern Harad the Vatrans, Tayb,the Black Hand and more polytheistic Aritanians prevailed with remnants of the older Ladnocans or the Tayé faith who were persecuted or at last suppressed by the Order of the Eye, who even tried to either absorb or abolish the older Servants of the real fire and other variants of the original Dark Worship considered heresies by the strict Sauronites.