'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎24] (39/1050)

24
ADEN
ADEN (PROTECTORATE)—
A territory in south-western Arabia which beJongs geographically to Yemen, but politi
cally to Bombay. So far, the land frontier of the Aden Protectorate has only been de
marcated on the west and north-west sides. As will be seen from the map which ac
companies this Gazetteer, the boundary line runs irregularly from Hisn Murad on the
coast to a point on the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bana about 11 miles east-north-east from the Turkish post of
Qa'tabah. From there onwards it follows a bearing of true north-east from Lakmat-ash-
Shub {see map) towards the Ruba'-al-Khali. The area of the Protectorate cannot be
estimated nor can it be until the eastern frontier has been demarcated.
With the exception of the comparatively small stretches of maritime plain in the south,
practically the whole of this district is mountainous, its chains being offshoots of the
Yemen highlands. In the west and south-west, the mountains are rugged and bare,
the principal peaks being Hawab, 4,183 feet, Tafasu, 3,619 feet. Sin Sanfa, 2,834 feet,
Kharaz, 2,766 feet, Al-Jariba, 2,608 feet Umm Misas, 2,055 feet, and Wusid, or Barn
Hill, 1,979 feet. To the north-west, along the frontier, are ranges of which the general
altitude is from 4,000 to 6,000 feet, the principl peaks being Jabal Jihaf, Jabal Harlr,
jabal Domenat, and Jabal Hasha. The highest mountains in the Protectorate are
Jabal Jihaf and Jabal Harir each 7,800 feet; and Jabal Shamroh, near the east bank
of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bana where it crosses the frontier.
The principal watercourses are the Tiban, the Bana, and the Hasan. Of the first
named the most important tributaries are the Warazan and the Juban.
Harbours and Anchorages. —In the whole coastline of the British Protectorate, the
harbour of Aden itself is the only one giving shelter to vessels in all weathers. Along the
coast to the eastward, however, there are various bays which under certain conditions of
wind and weather afford safe anchorage. Of these the more important are Shuqrah,
Maqatln, Ghubbat 'Ain, Majdahah, Bandar Burum, Mukalla, and Bandar Lask, at
Qishn.
The names and fighting strengths of the various tribes in the Protectorate are as
follows: —
Amiri (under the Amir of Dala) ,. ,, ,. •. 10,000
Haushabi .. .. .. .. •• •• 2,500
Subaihi .. .. .. .. .. • • 3,000
Abdali (indifferent fighters) .. .. .. .. 2,000
Yafai (Upper) .. .. .. .. .. .. 20,000
Yafai (Lower) .. .. .. .. .. .. 8,000
Fadhli .. .. .. .. .. •. •. 6,000
Aulaki, Upper (including 1,000 regulars) .. ,, .. 9,000
Aulaki, Lower .. .. .. .. . .. 4,000
Alawi > 7*0
A11 .> * • •• •• •• •• •• •
Akrabi j
Wahidi .. .. .. •. .. .. 2,500
Total .. 67,750
Irrigation and Agriculture —Although agriculture claims the attention of a large pro
portion of the inhabitants of the Protectorate, cultivation is restricted, owing to the
difficulties of irrigation, to the mountain valleys and slopes, and to such alluvial tracts
as lie near the watercourses. In the highlands irrigation is carried out from wells, and
in the low-lying districts, from the watercourses. The staple food of the country is
millet, of which two kinds, dhurra and dukhn, are grown. The remaining products
are maize, wheat, barley, cattle-fodder, dates, onions, grapes, small peaches, indigo;
coffee, and cotton. With perhaps the exception of Lahaj, none of the districts of the
Protectorate produce more cereal food-stuffs than are required for local consumption,
taking good years with tad.
Commerce and industries. —The greater portion of the trade in the districts under British
Protection, more especially m the western portion, is a transit trade from Turkish
Yemen, from which coffee, qdt, and skins, are exported, and to which in return kerosine
oil, piece-goods, tobacco, etc., are imported. The districts through which these commo
dities pass obtain a considerable revenue from transit dues, in return for which they