'Handbook of Yemen' [‎32r] (68/190)

a distance of twenty-five miles, the country is mostly
desert, and the inhabitants live in temporary huts in the
Khabt; east of Bajil there is cultivation.
The Quhrah own large numbers of camels, and the caravan
transport between Hodeidah and Hajjeilah is mainly in
their hands. They can put from 3,000 to 4,000 men in
the field and gave valuable assistance to the Turks in 1911,
when the former occupied the Lahab heights. They are
generally at feud with the Beni Suleil.
The chief Sheikh is Mu'afah Sheraf. Others are Hasan
'Abdullah and Ibrahim ; Ali.
Chief villages are Bajil (Sheikh c Ayad Ibn f Ali Humeidah),
Buhah, 'Obal, and Hajjeilah (Seyyid Husein 'Ali).
11.— ? Absi or Absiyah.
The f Absi or 'Absiyah extend from the coast south of
Hodeidah to the foot of Jebel Bura'a, about,thirty miles
from west to east and about fifteen miles from north to
south. The eastern half of their country is fertilized by
the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Siham, one of the principal wddis of Yemen,
which rises within a few miles of San a, and by the southern
part of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ghadir, rising in Jebel Reimah.
Their numbers are estimated at 5,000 to 6,000 men. ihey
are divided into the following sections : the Rabasah, round
Hodeidah; the Munafirah, east of them; the Hawwak,
round Mandar on the coast ten miles south of Hodeidah ; the
Beni Salih, under Jebel Bura/a ; the Ahl el-Khalifah and
Ahl esh-Sha'rah, east of Marawah, Dar ed-D6m; and the
Ahl es-Sabt el-Haradah, near Jebel Bura'a. The principal
Sheikh is Suleiman Hasan of Mahad. There are impor
tant settlements of Seyyids at Marawah and at Mansuriyah.
Principal villages are: 'Asal (Sheikh Yahya Harisah, of
Rabasah); Mahad (Sheikh Suleiman Hasan); Mukaiminiyah
(Sheikh Yusuf 'Ali, of Munafirah); Mandar (Sheikh 'Ali
Wahhaban, of Hawwak); Khalifah (Sheikh Mohammed
'Atiyah); Shar'ah (Sheikh Mohammed Suleiman); Kadubah;