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'An Account of the Arab Tribes in the Vicinity of Aden' [‎56r] (116/404)

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The record is made up of 2 volumes (194 folios). It was created in 1909. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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THE WA'HIDl'.
99
A great fair is held annually on the 12th Rajah at a
shrine near Hauta at which the Bedawins assemble in numbers
and exchange' their products for the various commodities
they need, such as cloth, dates, etc. At other times little
traffic goes on : indeed, the internal commerce is small from
the simple habits and few wants of the inhabitants, which
render them almost independent of external sources of supply.
Their ordinary food consists of coarse jowdri or bajri bread,
with ghee and dates. Very little rice is consumed, and the
Arabs are by no means vegetarians. The only beverage is
kishor, an infusion of coffee beans and husks.
The inhabitants, as seen at Hauta, are described by
Captain Miles as a taller, fairer, and more slender race than
the ordinary Arabs ; they wear their long curling hair loose, or
fastened behind with a band. Ignorant and superstitious,
they are consequently bigoted and fanatical, yet by no means
strict Muslims, very lax in religious duties, neglecting their
daily prayers, except on Fridays. The women are very fair,
with a slight yellowish tint, and go about unveiled—their
hair being worn in long ringlets round the head.
It is impossible to give any trustworthy estimate of the
Revenues. annual revenues, but they cannot
exceed 3,000 dollars. The want of
authority and power among the Sultdns may be accounted for
bylthe absence of wealth or any large source of income on their
part, the only means they have being the “ashur,” a sort of
property tax, and transit dues, besides the profits arising from
any landed property of their own. Most of this income,
however derived, has to be paid away to the Bedawins as a
retainer for their services when required, and to restrain them
from lawless acts.
The system of administration is of the patriarchal type.
Administration. The Sult ^ ns no real despotic
power, and are unable to take the life of
any member of the tribe. The Sultdn is, indeed, answerable to
the people for all his acts and proceedings ; and his decisions,
whether civil or criminal, to be respected, must be in ac
cordance with the law of their religion and the customs of the
tribes.. In cases of emergency he consults the Shaikhs of the
sub-tribes, whose advice he is bound to take and act in ac
cordance with. In cases where the members of the tribe are
not satisfied with their decisions, and in disputes with other

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Content

'An Account of the Arab tribes in the Vicinity of Aden' that was originally compiled by Captain F M Hunter and C W H Sealy in 1886, added to intermittently by various officers of 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. and re-published and revised in September 1907 by Captain Arthur Henry Eyre Moose, Assistant Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. . The report is dated 1909 and was printed at the Government Central Press, Bombay.

The account covers:

  • the 'Abdali
  • the Subehi
  • the 'Akrabi
  • the Fadthli
  • the Haushabi
  • the 'Aulaki
  • the Yafai
  • the 'Alawi
  • the 'Amir of Dthala
  • the Wahidi
  • the Shaikh of 'Irka
  • the Shaikh of Lower Haura
  • Kishn and Sokotra
  • the Kasadi
  • the Kaiti
  • the Kathiri
  • historical resumé of Mokalla, Shehr and the Hadthramut
  • Behan al Kasab
  • the 'Audali
  • Beda.

Appendix A is a detailed statement of tribes and chiefs in relations with 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. , Appendix B is a list of relevant treaties and engagements, Appendix C is a list of places visited from time to time by the Aden Troop, Appendix D is a number of genealogical tables and Appendix E is a list of notable personages in the Aden Protectorate.

In a separate pouch, the file contains three maps as follows: Map of the Arabian Coast from Hiswa Mukaidthir to Makatin (folio 195), Map of the Arabian Coast from Makatin to Bandar Janjari (folio 196) and Map showing Tribes and New Boundary of the Aden Protectorate (folio 197).

Extent and format
2 volumes (194 folios)
Arrangement

There is a table of contents on folio 4 and a separate pouch that contains three maps.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover of volume one (ff 1-193) and terminates at the inside back cover of the second volume (ff 194-198); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: volume one also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'An Account of the Arab Tribes in the Vicinity of Aden' [‎56r] (116/404), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/16/9, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100054913982.0x00007b> [accessed 14 March 2025]

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