'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎84] (99/1050)

84
ADEN
The following are sub-tribes of the Wahidi—
(1) Bil-laksar. (5) Ahl 'Umm-bin-'AH.
(2) Habrur. (6) Ahl Khadar.
(3) Aswad. ^7) Ahl 'Othaiman.
(4) HarizL (8) Ba Kutmi.
YAFA , —
Upper Yafa 1 {Yafa-'s-Sufld).
The country ot the Yafa I lies to the north and north-east of Aden, and is divided
into two main divisions hitherto known officially as the Upper and Lower Yafa' respec
tively, Upper Yafa' being to the north and the Lower Yafa' to the south.
The tribes themselves call the northern division the Yafa-'s-Sufla, or low, and the
southern division the Yufa Ban! Afif, or Bam Kasid.
The boundaries of Yafa-'s-Sufla ure on the north-west, the Marais country and
Hajajia and Riyashia in the Turkish district of Rida; on the north, the tribes of Al-
Husainia and Malajim under the influence of 'Amm Rasas, on the north-east and east,
the territory of 'Amm Rasas ; on the west, the territory of the Amir of Dhala and the
subordinate tribes of the Shairi, Halmin and Al-'Ajud; and on the south, the Yafa Ban!
Kasid.
Yafa-'s-Sufla is a country consisting of high mountains and deep valleys. The
principal ranges of mountains are Jabal Shimr lying between the country of the Dhubi
and Mausatta clans ; Jabals Shamsan, Dhl-Marsua and Zaivi, in the Mausatta territory :
and the Jabal-uFUrr range forming the border between Yafa-'s-Sufla and the Baida
country and Jabal-ul-'AII and Jabal Sulaiman in the centre of Yafa'.
The principal river of the country is the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bana, which flows in from the north
west, but there are several of its tributaries and small valleys which have running streams
in them. Amongst these are the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hatib, the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Jahami and the Sailat-us-Sih
Water can be found in nearly all valleys during the months of July, August, and Septem-
ber, the rainy season.
The general elevation of Yafa-'s-Sufla is between 4,000 and 7,000 feet above the sea and
the climate is equable and generally cool and pleasant.
For limits of territories occupied by sub-tribes; see Chapter III,
The country is fertile and produces coffee, warns (bastard saffron), cotton, wheat
barley and wax in large quantities. '
The Shaibi clan grow a little coffee ; also red and white jowari as rain crops • and bv
irrigation from wells, wheat and lucerne. '
Upper and, lower Yafa\
The connection between the two divisions of the Yufa'i is a real one in time of war or
tribal deliberation. The Sultans of Upper and Lower Yafa' and the Naoib of the
Mausata clan are regarded as being severally heads of the Yafa'i tribe and are supposed
to unite and consult m time of national emergency. • The Sultan of Lower Yafa' bein^ of
much older family than the Sultan of Upper Yafa', is regarded as the senior leader. 0 At
the same time the rula of either of these Sultans is, in many respects, only nominal, and
they have little real control over their tribesmen. ISTor can they punish or imprison the
latter in the same way as, for instance, the Sultan of Lahej or Amir of Dhala. Also the
power of the clans individually is great and they assert considerable independence of
action. A clan or section of a clan, or groups or village, or even family, can and fre-
q ^ en ^ c l ocs Associate itself from the general policy or general action of the unit of
which it forms a part.
The power of the Sultan of Upper Yafa' regarding tribute and revenue appears to be
directly exercised over the people of Mahjaba (his chief town), the Da'udi clan of Al-Had
and the people of Ar-Ku atain. There are many rival claimants to the Sultanate.
+ f nnnTti ^ FF- 0annot be estimated . that of Lower Yafa' is estimated
at 8,000 doUars, derived from imposts on qafilahs and taxes, especially upon coffee.
Lower Yafa (Y a fa'' Bani Kasid or Banl Afif).
The territory of this tribe is bounded on the north by the Upper Yafa'i, on the south
and east by the Padhli and independent tribes, and on the west by the Amirl and the