'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎101] (116/1050)

ADEN 101
6. Three clans who are termed Asakir. They do not come directly under the Sultan;
but are bound by treaty with the Ahl Maan to give their services in battle in case of
a war.
{a) Ahl Ba Zal, leading a pastoral life in the Kaur el Od near the source of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Marbun.
(6) Ahl Wahar, living at Heyd Keneb and Husn Makosrah, agricultural.
(c) Ahel el Reyd, who occupy a district north-east of el Ark (the frontier village
of Lower Aulaki). They lead a pastoral life along the banks of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
el Reyd, which joins the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Rafal just above el Ark, under the name of
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Malaik.
7. Ahl Ba Feyad, a powerful tribe, who are not related to the Ahl Maan, but are;
bound to them by a mutual offensive and defensive alliance. They muster 600 men
and live along Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Yeshbum, between el Sfal and the gorge of el Nakabah. Origin
not knowm
8. Ahl Ba Hadah, another treaty tribe of the Ahl Maan, who number 300 men and
and extend from below the Nakabah gorge to within a short distance of Haban.
9. Khalifa, a treaty tribe living on the western slopes of Heyd Hadhenah, a range
to the west of the Hamani Desert, and mustering about 1,000 men.
The fighting strength of the Sultan, including his Asakir or stading army, is as follows :
Troops at Medak, Ni'sab, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Durra, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Abadan, Wasat,
and Behan .. .. .. .. .. 1,100
Ahl Maan and Treaty Tribes .. .. .. .. 4,900
Ahl Mehagir and Nasain .. .. .. .. 4,400
10,400
In case of a great emergency the Sultan would, as suzerain, secure the services of the
desert tribes lying east and north-east of the Hamam as far as human life can be sup
ported in the desert. The Behan tribes would join as a matter of policy for they are
too close to escape being crushed by the fall of the Aulaki dynasty. The people of Jauf
would certainly throw in their lot with the Aulaki, for it has always been the policy of
the Nisab Sultans to keep in touch with the parent tribeship, and Jaufi chiefs are often
entertained at Nisab. The Khalifah of Hadhenah would also come forward, as a serious
reverse to Upper Aulaki would cut them off from all their trade routes to Nisab, Yesh
bum, and Haban.
Lower Aulaki would follow the lead of the Ahl Maan, as between Um Rusas Abu
Farid and Ali Abu Mehsin, the paramount chief of the Ba Kazim, there is firm friendship
and also a defensive treaty. Only in the case of aggression against the Abdali Sultan
would the Ba Kazim keep out, there being a close alliance between Ali Abu Mehsin
and the Abdali Sultan.
If the position of Dathineh is considered, it will be seen that the Oleh confederacy
must join in or be annihilated, and besides, their sympathies are with the Aulaki.
Under such circumstances the forces may be estimated as follows
Upper Aulaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,400
Lower Aulaki .. .. .. .. • • • • 4,800
Jauf and tribes between them and Behan ., .. .. 12,000
Behan .. .. .. .. •. .. 6,000
Desert tribes, Ahl Karab, etc. . ^ .. .. .. 8,000
Khalifah of Hadhenah .. .. .. .. 1,000
Oleh of Datineh .. .. .. .» • • 3,200
45,400
The Ahl Bunyar, who number about 4,000, are excluded, as they would follow the
Beyda Sultan, and some tribes, whose forces are not known, are also omitted.
The supply of breech-loading rifles amongst those tribes has increased enormously
during the last few years, and they have some good mounted troops. Their military
spirit is undeniable, their history for the last century being full of martial episodes.