"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد I" [‎٦‎٧] (١٠٥٠/٨٢)

ADEN
67
of ascent. In this portion, cultivation is almost entirely carried on in the valleys of
the Tiban, Warezan and various wddw; stretches of " Habil" or stone-covered plain,
occur frequently between the hills, but these are useless for purposes of cultivation.
The eastern part is with the exception of some cultivation near Harur and Ar-Raha,
sandy desert. . • r n
The southern boundary runs from Harur to Nubat Dakim, whence it follows the
crest-line of the range of hills running parallel to the right bank of the Tiban to a little,
below the junction of the Wadi Akkan, from which it passes in a south-westerly direction,
south of Minjara and Hidaba and skirting the north of the Juhaili hills to J. Muharrika.
From Harur to Nubat Dakim the border marches with the' Abdali; thence to J. Muharrika
with the Subaihi. - „ , - -n £ o-
From J, Muharrika it crosses the Wadi Hidaba just below the Kubati village 01 buq-
ur-Rabu, then the Wadi Natid at Dar Nasir Harbi, whence it follows in a general north
west direction the crest-line of the low hills (J. Ghefan, Humala and Rakabat Tinsam)
overlooking the low-lying Yusufiyin and Badu countries. From Tinsam it follows
a general north-east direction crossing the Habil 'Arabi just to the south of the village
of Nabu, and the Am Amma range at J. Basaisa, on the north side of which Ahmadi
territory is met. This portion is the boundary with the Turkish Sanjak of Ta'izz, the
conterminous districts being Kubati, Yusufi, Badu and Humar. The boundary is
shewn in detail on the map. ttt , ,,
Hence the Haushabi boundary with the Ahmadi runs east, north of J. Warwa, to the
junction of the Wadi Shan with the Tiban, whence it runs south, on the left bank of the
Tiban to the Wadi Makhran, the villages and lands of Lijma and A1 Kam'a, being
included on the Haushabi side. The line then runs east along the southern watershed
of the Wadi Makhran to J. Kalaban, and along the col crossed by the Naqil Hesha
pass at the head of the Wadi Bilih ; then south-east along the southern watershed of the
Sailat Kharjan and down a spur to a point called Safa Atla, where the boundary with
the Amiri ends. The line then passes south to Al-Milah bordering on the Awall and
south-east, by Dar-ul-Ashraf, Bir Shakfa and Bir-al-Jiyin, to Harur, the Dhanban
(Radfan tribe nominally under Haushabi influence) being to the north.
The villages in the Haushabi country are as a rule small and badly built, consisting
of a tower or two each, and a cluster of little stone hovels. The largest villages arte
Harur with about 50 houses and Ar-Raha, a cluster of small villages. The Sultan
himself lives at Musaimir in a large tower of stone in mud, some 75 feet square and 40
feet high. With the exception of one other tower, the only habitation is a cluster of
reed huts where his soldiers and slaves lived. The tower is situated on an eminence
some 200 feet above the left bank of the Tiban. The locality is most unhealthy. There
are springs of water in the Wadi Jiref, about a mile above its point of junction with the
left bank of the Tiban below Musaimir, yielding an abundant supply of good drinking
water.
The tribe is estimated to number 7,000 souls. j ^ a
The country is on the whole a poor one. Fourteen hundred acres are said to be under
cultivation, chiefly in the bed of the Tiban, where jowari is grown. On the hills are
bushes of babul and rakh : the latter furnishes grazing for camels.
Cattle, sheep, and goats are reared, and camels are said to be fairly plentiful.
Criminal and civil cases are decided by the Sultan according to custom. Murder is
punished by a fine but the deceased's heirs are at liberty to slay the murd.erer if the blood
money (770 dollars) is not paid within a certain period. There is only one Qadhi m
the whole district. He resides at Ar-Raha and only performs marriage ceremonies.
There are nine principal Shaikhs, each having from one to three hundred followers.
Corresponding to the sub-divisions of the tribe there are ten districts, one of these is
ruled by the Sultan, the others by the chiefs concerned. >n •
Revenue. —The annual revenue of the Haushabi Sultan is about 5,500 dollars, prin
cipally derived from land tax and transit dues, the latter being levied at the following
rates * _ 3 liar
For every camel load of jowari • • .. .. # ' i t, ' T ®
For every camel load of coffee, ghi, madder, candles honey, war as, cloth and ^
other merchandise from Aden .. •. • • • • "
For every camel load of wheat and other unenumerated produce ' * s™ '»