'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎75] (90/1050)

ADEN 75
Qishn and Soqotra belong to the Ahl 'Afrir, a Mahri tribe that does not number
above 20 persons. The following Mahri tribes are reported to be subject to the Sultan
Bait Ziyad Bin Rab'ain.
Bait Harawuz. Bin 'Isa bin Mubarak.
Bait Bararshi. Bin 'Assut.
Bin Mahamid. Bin Da'kan.
Bin 'Akid. Bin Shara.
BinJadhi. Bin'Ilayyan.
Bin Duhus. Bin Mahmush.
Bin 'Ah-Sa'd. Bin Kalshat.
Bin Sahl Sin Salaimi.
Bin Basir. Bin Maghfik.
makhdumi—
Living in Wadis Alasan and Marasa, comprise some 5 sections. The country is much
the same as that previously described, a little cultivation existing in the two river-beds.
The only two wells known (Bir Ghassan in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Alasan and Bir Marasa) contain a
poor supply of water. A ravine—al-Kadi—near the foot of the Kubati hills north of
Dar Murshid Nasir, is reported to contain a good supply of water but there was no op
portunity of inspecting it. Doubtless there are several water-holding ravines along tho
Kubati border, but the suspicious and semi-hostile people keep their existence secret.
mansuri—.
Living in the neighbourhood of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Masharij, number about 300 men, and were
formerly the most powerful of the Subaihi tribes, exergising effectual, as they still do
(in the case of the Shujaifi at least) nominal suzerainty over the Shujaifi, Jaz'ai and
Koraihi clans to the north-west. These clans held the position of " Ra'aya " or subjects
of the Mansuri, to whom they paid tribute. The continual feuds existing among the
Subaihi tribes for many years past have served to destroy the preponderating influence
of any particular tribe, and to cause the small outlying clans to the north to fall almost
entirely under the influence of the powerful Turkish tribes of Kubati, Absi, and Yusufi.
The actual chief of the Mansuri is Saif ba 'Abdalla, a boy of about 14, his uncle, Salih
ba Ahmad, administering his affairs for him.
There is a little cultivation in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Masharij around the few scattered towers, and
a little in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sulaib.
The only well in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Masharij had fallen in, and the owner was given money to repair
it. A good many riding camels were seen, " dijr " (wetch), which was plentiful, being
the fodder used for them.
MATARAFl—
West of theHumaidi, live in the Wadis Mulaihia and Dar and border on the Kubati.
The three stone towers in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Mulaihia are evidently more for the purpose of defence
than residence, the majority of the people living in temporary huts of karhi. There is
a narrow strip of cultivation in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Mulaihia and somewhat more in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Dar near Bir
Kurain, but it is entirely dependent on the rainfall, and when traversed in February
1904, did not appear to have produced a crop in the preceding year.
The remainder of their country is very rugged and barren and with the exception of
Bir Kurain, a good well, and some springs in Suaida ravine—-some 2 miles north of Bir
Kurain and near the foot of the Kubati mountains—it appears to be waterless. The
pools in the Suiada ravine, though somewhat difficult of access, would have watered
(February 1904), at the least, 500 camels. Water was reported in two adjacent ravines,
but there was no opportunity of inspecting it.
The north-east Subaihi tribes are physically rather fine men ; lightly built, but very
wiry. Many of them have good features and bright, singularly light coloured eyes.
They are exceedingly ignorant and suspicious, and require most careful treatment to
avoid arousing hostility. Most, if not all, seen were armed with breech-loaders
(mostly the universal Legras carbine), and it is no exaggeration to say that their fingers
are, figuratively, continually on their triggers.
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