'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎34] (49/1050)

34
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They have slight peculiarities of dialect by which they may be identified.
The population of the villages is as lollows;—
Al-Kash'a
Al-Khariba
As-Sauda
500
100
200
100
50
100
Adh-Dhanib
Jiml
Al-Hajar ..
The fighting strength of the tribe has been estimated at 500, but this appears to be
excessive. They employ mercenaries from the Dhanbaris and other Radfan tribes to
assist them in their wars.
The family of the ruling Shaikh came originally from Lower Yafa'. At one time they
were Governors of the district under the Imam of San'a, but were subordinate to the
Governor of the Haushabl country. When the power of the Imam declined they became
independent.
Criminal and civil matters are disposed of by the ShaikV, but an appeal lies to the
Qadhi of Adh-Dhubayyat, a Saiyid village on the highest peak on the mountain range
that forms the northern border of the'Alawl country. His decision is final. Blood money
is accepted for murder, but the heirs may slay the murderer if it is not paid.
The Qadhi at Al-Khariba performs all marriage ceremonies.
Revenue. —The revenue is estimated at 2,500 dollars annually, derived from the crops,
transit dues and an annual stipend of sixty dollars from the British Government. Each
cultivator is supposed to pay to the Shaikh two Kaibahs (30 lbs.) of grain whenever the
crops are good.
In the immediate hinterland of Aden the two principal rivers of this part of Arabia,
the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Tiban, and the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bana, flow from north to south. The mountain tract
between them forms, roughly speaking, the Amir of Dhala's territory.
Though the range here presents a very irregular front towards the south, the scarp
may be clearly traced in the abrupt cliffs of Jabal Mafari, Adh-Dhubayyat, and Jabal
Harir. Southwards, it falls away in a series of broken mountains and hills to the Aden
littoral.
The above mentioned tract consists mainly of rugged mountains of igneous rock, with
here and there broad cultivated valleys.
The Amir of Dhala's territory is bounded on the north by a line which leaves the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Bana at the foot of a prominent hill, Haidh Ithri, runs west over the crest of this hill and
down to the valley of the Sailat Bakain, across it, and up Haidh Sala a big spur of Jabal
Harir, divides the village of Adina on the south from Marat on the north, and reaches
the summit of Jabal Harir just north of the village of Al-Fokaha, descends by the Naqil
Haban spur, passes just north of the Shairi village of Khubaidat and then runs down the
southern branch of the WadT-ul-Haslab to near the village of Sarara, then turns north,
over the peak of Jabal Akram, and crosses the valley north of that hill between the
Amiri village of Dar-ul-Hanbali and the Muflahi village of Khalla, then north-west
among the foothills of the Shaibi range near the Amiri village of Al-Kurain to a conspicu
ous red rock which marks the junction of the lands of Habil-ul-Jilb (Shaibi), Al-Kurain
and Al-Ukla. The line then goes north up a steep spur to a point on the Marais border
known as Has Naqil Adana.
From this point westwards the Amir's border is the frontier between the British
protectorate and Turkish territory. The line goes west across the Naqil Suqda to Nijd
Ma'wad at the head of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Keshan, then south to the summit of the hill called
Jabal Barkan ; west along the southern slopes of a ridge to its western point, known as
Jabal Jerad, thence to Nijd Aslum J a mile south of Ka'taba ; crosses the Sailat
Ka'taba two miles below the town, then south-west to Nijd-un-Nus, turns due west
across Habil Bajah and the Sailat Human to the tomb of Wali 'Umr Isma'il, thence goes
south-west, crossing the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Jimri just above Kule'a-us-Sufla, to high ground called
HabilHawar; thence it runs south across the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Tiban and up to a high north-
eastern shoulder of Jabal Hesha known as Jabal Sarir.
'AMIRl—