'An Account of the Arab Tribes in the Vicinity of Aden' [‎38r] (80/404)

The Yafai.
The Yafaf are divided into the Yafai'-as-Sufla and the
Yafai-al-Ulya or Lower and Upper.
Upper Yafai'.
The Upper Yafai tribe is estimated to exceed in number
15,000 fighting men. This tribe borders upon the province
of Hadthramut and is often engaged in hostilities with the
Kaitf tribe. The connection between the Yafaf and Kaitf
tribes will be found in the description of Shehr, Mokalla and
the Kathfrf tribe.
The Yafaf country formerly extended from a point on the
sea-coast to the eastward of Aden as far as the frontiers of
Hadthramut. The maritime districts, including Ja’wala and
Al-Asala, were, however, wrested from the Yafaf shortly
before the British occupation of Aden (in 1839), and the
Yafaf has been unable to regain possession from the Fadthlf.
The Upper Yafaf country is fertile, producing coffee, waras
(bastard saffron), cotton, wheat, barley and wax in large
quantities ; but little trade from this district reaches Aden.
The Upper Yafaf is quite distinct from the Lower Yafaf:
neither pays the other any tribute, but each is independ
ent. It is related that about a hundred years ago Saif, the
third Sultan of the Lower Yafaf, had in his employ a clerk
named Shaikh Harharah, who was much beloved by the
Sultan, and an able man. To him the Sultan granted bv
deed of gift a district called “ As-Sufal,” and from this
originated the Upper Yafaf. The reigning family of the latter
are related to the ’Abdalf reigning family, and there is con
siderable intercourse between them.
The Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. has little communication with the
Upper Yafaf tribe, and it was only during the hostilities
between Shehr and Mokalla that the tribe came into notice
permission having been given in 1881 to the Kaitf to obtain a
body of mercenaries from the Upper Yafaf, whose Sultan
Mahomed bin ’Alf bin Saleh visited Aden and was honourably
entertained. The Sultdn again visited Aden in March 1887.
Near the Barrier Gate he sustained a fall from his camel,
which necessitated his stay in Aden under medical treatment
for six weeks.