'Personalities, Arabia' [‎265] (269/374)

265
(v&)
Sultan.
Husein ibn Ahmed of Shughrah.
FADHLI
Tribes.
Merqushi {Markashi).
A hi Haidarah Mansur.
Round J. 'Uris.
In Abiyan.
15. Haushabi.
The Haushabi are a powerful tribe extending from Dareijah to
Nubat Dakim, and controlling the Yemen caravan road along the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Tiban, north of the 'Abdali territory. They claim suzerainty over the
Dhambari, which that tribe admits only when it suits them. They
are agricultural and pastoral and number about 6,000 souls.
The capital is Musemir, a town 60 miles north of Aden, situated
on a small plateau overlooking the left bank of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Tiban. The
Sultan 'Ali ibn Mani threw in his lot with the Turks when they appeared
in 1915, and accompanied them south in their attack on Aden. He is
said to be under the influence of Mohammed Nasir Muqbil of Mawiyah.
He had always shown signs of weakness and irresolution, and although
his conduct improved just before the war broke out he had the misfortune
to be in the hands of ill-disposed and irresponsible advisers, of whom the
chief is Fadl ibn 'Ali Humadi.
16. Hajariyah.
The Sheikh of this district is Ahmed Na'man, formerly a tax-farmer
and made a Kaimmakam by the Turks. He maintains a Zeidist levy of
500 men, and raised a larger force to help the Turkish expedition against
Aden. Sub-Sheikhs under his influence attacked us at Sheikh Sa'id
late in 1914. Early in 1915 he attacked Sh. Mohammed Hasan, the
chief of a religious fraternity at Jebel Habashi, near Ta'izz, for refusal
to pay tithe. More lately he has been reported to have been killed
and succeeded by his son Mohammed, who was formerly A.D.C. to the
Commandant of Ta'izz, and is said to be energetic and anti-British.
17. Quteibi.
A small tribe, about 50 miles north of Aden, whose head-quarters
are at Dhi Hajarah. The Sultan of the Amlri, who rules immediately
to the north, claims suzerainty over them, but cannot enforce it, nor
do they admit the claim.
The tribe rebelled in 1903 and a British expedition was sent against
them. Their Sheikh, Mohammed Salih el-Akhram, nursed a grievance
about this for some years, but was eventually won over. He has not
much influence over a restless and quarrelsome tribe. He was at odds
with the 'Alawi until 1912, when the 'Abdali Sultan effected a reconcilia
tion. The real power lies with his nephew Sheikh Muqbil 'Abdullah,
who has always been an unreliable factor. Sheikh Mohammed Salih
endeavoured to remain neutral when the Turks advanced in 1915, and
as late as November in that year wrote to the Resident at Aden, saying
that the Turks were exercising pressure on him, and that he was afraid
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