'An Account of the Arab Tribes in the Vicinity of Aden' [‎40r] (84/404)

THE YAFAI'.
67
In September Sultan Kahtan bin Umar continued unrestored
to power though he was given in full the 3,000 dollars promised
to him by Government.
The Shaikhs of Dthubf and Muflahf made several visits to
the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Dthala, and upon our departure from
Dthala the Yafaf Shaikhs generally appeared more friendly
with us—doubtless owing to our withdrawal and the reduction
to a minimum of our intervention in Yafaf affairs.
Lower Yafai'.
The Lower Yafaf country is bounded on the north by the
Upper Yafaf, on the south and east by the Fadthlf and
independent tribes, and on the west by the territories of the
Amfr of Dthala and of the Haushabf. The country is well
watered, but has been slightly visited, so that little is known
of it. It is said to be very mountainous, abounding in fertile
valleys which produce grapes, jowari, coffee and madder in
abundance. Horses, camels, donkeys, sheep and goats are
said to be numerous. In winter the cold is sufficient to freeze
the streams. The area cannot be estimated, but the popula
tion cannot be under 20,000 souls.
The principal towns and villages are—Khanfar, on the left
bank of the Bana-al-Kara, the capital, situated on a hill which
commands the country for miles around. The Sultdn resides
here most of the year. The surrounding country is thoroughly
watered by the Band. Ar-Rawwa; Al-Husn, situated in a
large grassy plain bearing the appearance of being periodically
flooded and under cultivation for the most part; Nakhib;
Hummd ; Amshak ; Bu-Sab’a ; Al-Khabt; Al-Masna’a ; Sarar.
Al-Khabt and Al-Masna’a claim to be independent.
The rivers Band and Hasan, referred to under the head of
the Fadthlf tribe, take their rise in the Yafaf country. The
Band runs continuously for six months (May to October), and
freshets occur frequently, which reach the sea. The Hasan,
though a broader river, is never unfordable, and its waters do
not reach the sea more than a dozen times a year. The
Ndzi’a, which has been the fruitful source of disputes between
the Fadthlf and Yafaf, flows-in a natural channel from the
Band near Al-Masna’a a little below al-Hasn : artificial cuts
from the Ndzi’a water the Fadthlf cultivated lands between the
Band and the Hasan.