'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎197] (306/496)

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of Kurrum, and who therefore naturally have their chief trade through
that port. The Ahl Yusuf, a branch of the Haber-tel-Jahleh, at present
hold possession of Kurrum, and between them and the tribes to wind
ward there exists a most bitter and irreconcileable feud, the consequence
of sundry murders perpetrated about five years since at Kurrum, and
which hitherto have not been avenged.
The small ports of Enterad, Unkor, Heis, and Eukudah, are not
worthy of mention, with the exception of the first-named place, which
has a trade with Aden in sheep, and leaving the Haber-tel-Jahleh at Heis,
therefore, it remains but to notice the ancient settlement of Meyet, the
burial-place of the founder of the Edoor nation, and their present limit
to the eastward. Meyet is situated on a small plain bounded on the
South and S. W. by the western extreme of the lofty mountains of the
Ahl Oor Sungeli, which here approach within two hours of the sea. From
Meyet a large quantity of white ebony is exported, as also a long and
thin rafter used both at Aden and on the Coast in the construction of
native houses. The hills immediately over the town afford a large sup
ply of very fine gums, and the place carries on a considerable trade with
both Aden and Makulla.
The stranger is at once struck with the magnitude of the burial-ground
at Meyet, which extends for fully a mile each way. Attachment to the
memory of their forefather Isaakh yet induces many aged men of the
western tribes to pass the close of their lives at Meyet, in order that their
tombs may be found near that of their chief; and this will account for
the unusual size of this cemetery. Many of the graves have head-stones
of madrepore, on which is cut in relief the name of the tenant below ;
and of these many are to be found 250 years old.
In my notice of the western tribes, I have made use of the word
Edoor to distinguish the descendants of Isaakh from those of his fellow-
countryman Harrood, but it may be as well to observe that the western
tiibes are averse to the appellation, and invariably correct the person
who styles them Edoor, by telling him that they (the Edoor) are the
Galla tribes. The Mijirtheyn told me that the Galla family into which
Sheikh Isaakh married was called C( Durr,” and from that is derived the
name of “ Edoor”; and the Haber Gerhajis, on the other hand, retaliate
by quoting “ Darrood” as an offshoot from the same pagan source. I
I found it impossible to obtain any estimate of the number of their
tiibes, but the population in the interior is doubtless very great. The