'Personalities, Arabia' [‎264] (268/374)

264
13. Dhdmhari.
A small tribe north of Aden, about 40 miles east of the Haushabi,
whose Sultan claims suzerainty over them, a claim which they only admit
when it suits them. They have always given trouble, and in 1903 a British
column meted out punishment to them for raiding the mail, and destroyed
their fortress at Nakhlein. The chief Sheikh is Salim Husein. They
are reported to have recently joined the Turks.
14. Fadhli.
The Fadhli are a large and warlike tribe, numbering about 8,000
fighting men, who are probably well-armed owing to their large sea
board and resources. They are pastoral and agricultural, and extend
from Maqatln (the Lower 'Aulaqi boundary) to the Fadhli border and
British frontier line at Tmad, where the tribeship is a mere coastal strip
and uninhabited. To the north is the Oleh confederation, over whom
the Sultan claims a suzerainty, which is not admitted. In actual practice
his power does not extend inland of the maritime ranges. The Sultan
is Husein ibn Ahmed, resident at Shughrah (Shuqrah). He is an old man
of 90, and in 1877 was deported to India and confined in the fort of
Ahmednagar for 9 years, having been implicated in the murder of his
brother Heidlyah, who was then Sultan. Heidiyah was succeeded by
Sultan Husein's son, Ahmed ibn Husein. The latter died in 1907, after
giving much trouble to the authorities, and Husein was proclaimed
Sultan. He is unpopular with his subjects, and his grandson 'Abdullah
Din ibn Ahmed has greater influence and is anxious to supplant him.
He has a son aged 31 named 'Abdullah ibn Husein, who acted for him
during his absence in Delhi at the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). in 1911, and again in 1913
when he visited Jerusalem. Sultan Husein visited Aden late in 1915, after
wards returning to Shughrah. In January of this year he was summoned
to Lahej and received by 'Ali Sa'Id Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. with much honour. After
remaining there for some time he returned to Shughrah and reopened
correspondence with Aden, claiming to have been compelled by force
majeure to visit Lahej. His subsidy has been withheld and an embargo
been placed on Shughrah. He has been ordered to Aden to state his case,
but it is not expected that he will comply until the situation is clearer.
The Fadhli Sultan is in a favourable position, owing to the con
vergence of several caravan routes from the northern and eastern
districts, to collect onerous transit dues and hamper traffic generally.
The cadets of his house in Abiyan, which owes its fertility to W. Bana
and other streams between the Fadhli and Aden, have always been
independent of him, and bleed the unfortunate traders a second time
before they can pass.
I he chief tribe is the Merqushi (Markashi), who live round J. 'Uris
and the neighbouring hills.