'Personalities, Arabia' [‎246] (250/374)

SEDENTARY TRIBES OF THE SOUTH
ADEN PROTECTORATE
i. 1 Abddli.
T he Ottoman attack on Aden in July 1915 resulted in the occupa
tion of the 'Abdali country by the Turks, the fall and sack of Lahej,
its capital, the death of the ruling Sultan, and the retreat of most of his
subjects to the Aden lines.
Previous to that event the 'Abdali tribe occupied the country
immediately round Aden. Its boundaries extended about 35 miles
inland to the Haushabi tribe on the North, to the Fadhli Sultanate on
the East, and the Subeihi tribe on the West. Formerly it held the
Aden peninsula until an outrage perpetrated on a shipwrecked crew and
the absence of any satisfaction led to the British bombardment and
occupation of Aden in 1839.
The Sultan of Lahej, who is the head of the 'Abdali, still receives
a yearly subsidy from the British Government for its occupation of the
town of Sheikh 'Othman, and leases to it a large area of land in the neck
of the isthmus. The present Sultan, 'Abd el-Kerim ibn Fadl ibn 'Ali,
is a man of 35, of sedentary habits, who has up to the present shown
no marked ability. He is fairly well educated according to Arab standards,
but knows no English. He is very popular with the tribe. He succeeded
his cousin H. H. Sultan Sir 'Ali ibn Ahmed ibn 'Ali, K.C.I.E., on July 13,
1915, when the latter was accidentally shot during the Ottoman occupa
tion of Lahej.
The tribe owes its importance more to its wealth than to its military
prowess. It is entirely settled and agricultural with the exception of the
Ahl Ban, who are chiefly pastoral but have arable land westwards in
Abiyan near the Fadhli Sultanate. The population is estimated at 14,500.
The late Sultan of Lahej controlled the first stage of the main caravan
road from Aden to Yemen up the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Tiban and maintained armed
and fortified posts at Zeidah, Sha'qah (Shaka), and 'Anad. He also had
a customs post for the Aden traffic at Dar el-Amir. He was then able
to put into the field about 2,000 men, who were of doubtful fighting value
but strong enough to repel any tribal attacks, knowing that British
troops would come to their aid in the event of serious trouble.
Sub-Tribe.
Ahl Ban.
'Udheibi.
Musabein.
Mansuri.
Clan.
Sh. Salih Mansur.
'Ali Mansur.
Mohammed Mansur.