'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎32] (47/1050)

32
ADEN
'ABDALl—
The district inhabited by the 'Abdali tribe, which has been known from very early
times as Lahej, is bounded on the west by a line starting from a boundary pillar situated
about a mile from the sea near the Hiswa, on the northern shore of the Aden harbour.
Passing about three miles to the east of Bir Ahmad and west of Darab through an un
cultivated space, the line runs to A1 Anad, a small stone fort about thirty-five miles
from Aden Barrier Gate. From A1 Anad it crosses sand drifts and desert to near Bir
Uwaidain ; thence it turns south-west towards Imad where it meets British territory.
Lahej may be generally described as a large sandy plain watered by a torrent which
bifurcates a few miles below Zaida. The western branch, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -ul-Kablr, finds its way
to the sea at Hiswa ; the eastern branch, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -us-Saghir, after passing 'Imad. It is
only after floods that the water ever reaches Darb and Fiyush, but it may always be found
in the river bed a few feet below the surface. The stream is perennial and rises beyond
the HaushabI territory in the neighbourhood of Ta'izz.
The population, which is roughly estimated at 15,000, consists of ' Abdali Muwallads,*
a cross between Arabs and Africans who are only a degree below pure Arabs in social
status, a sprinkling of Somalis, Khadim, a migratory people of negro descent employed
as scavengers and Hajiris,* another despised class who visit the maritime plain in harvest
time.
The' Abdali have never had a warlike reputation. They are largely engaged in cultivat
ing the fertile tract enclosed by the two branches of the Tiban, and our relations with
them have always been close and friendly.
Al-Hauta, the capital, has an estimated poulation of 9,000. It is the only town in
the district, the rest being mere villages. Among these are Zaida, just south of which the
Tiban divides into two branches, and Shakka a mile farther north. Both are on the
left bank amid well cultivated lands. They are built of mud bricks and walled.
The sub-divisions of the 'Abdali are as foJlows :—
Ahl Mujawwar.
Ahl Yamani.
Ahl Dhafar.
Lashun.
Ladrub.
Sakin-hal-'Ali.
Ahl-us-Simsam.
Ahl-un-Naum.
Ahl-ul-Kidam.
Ahl-ul-Hijaz.
Ahl Yazidi.
Ahl-ul-Hasiki.
Al-Masawida.
Ahl Shaml.
Ahl-us-Sa'diyain.
Hannaisha.
Al-Huwwaija.
Ahl-Amkhala.
Ahl Jalajil.
Al-Battaina.
Al-Farraija.
Al-A'mur.
Ahl-us-Saila.
Al-Mashahira.
Ahl-us-Saruri.
Ahl Bir Haimid.
Al-Harraisha.
Al-Mahariza.
Ahl Kayin.
Ahl Shaddad (part of this tribe is sub
ject to the Fadhli).
Ahl Bu-Hanash.
Miscellaneous retainers of the Sultan
(about 150 men).
1.
Ahl Sallam.
34.
2.
t zzaibi (pl.'Azzaiba).
35.
3.
'Abbaida.
36.
4.
Ahl Amir.
37.
5.
Ahl Jabir.
38.
6.
Ahl Dayyan.
39.
7.
Amm Shahhaira.
40.
8.
Ahl Dannam.
41.
9.
Al-Makhariba.
42.
10.
Ahl Buk'i.
43.
11.
Ahl Suwailih.
44.
12.
Ahl Yurhum.
45.
13.
Al-Manasira.
46.
14.
Az-Zabbaira.
47.
15.
Ahl-ban-Mahaidan.
48.
16.
Ahl-ai-Jol.
49.
17.
Ar-K,ajaisha.
50.
18.
Al-'Arabid. i
51.
19.
Al-Mahakka.
52.
20.
Sa'aida.
53.
21.
Dajjaina.
54.
22.
As-Sawwaida.
55.
23.
Ahl- ath - Tha' lab.
56.
24.
Ahl Kais.
57.
25.
Lakdur.
58.
26.
59.
27.
Ahl 'Ubr-badr (also called Ahn-ul-
60.
Nusrl).
61.
28.
'Akarib-Uwaina.
62.
29.
Ahl Ban-ul-Hamra.
63.
30.
Harraina.
31.
Ahl Thabatan.
64.
32.
Ahl-ul-Wukud.
65.
33.
Al-Ayyaidha.
•The number of Hajiris in 'Abdali territory is estimated at 150 and the number pf Muwallads at about 400.