"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. المجلد I. ١٩١٧" [‎٥‎١‎٣] (٧٤٨/٥٢٢)

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with the Quteibi. A middle-aged man of no particular influence,
he was at first loyal and amenable to advice, but for some years
his hatred and jealousy of the Quteibi, combined with excessive
indulgence in hat, led him into trouble. The animosity between
him and the Quteibi finally cooled down and a permanent settle
ment was effected between them in 1913 by the late 'Abdali Sultan,
Sir Ahmed Fadhl. He succeeded to the Chief ship in 1898 and signed
an agreement for the safety of the trade routes in July 1914, under
which his stipend was raised from Rs. 600 to 1,200 per annum.
Early in January 1916 he and his tribe were reported to have
submitted with the Quteibi to the Turks and to be marching against
the Fadhli Sultan.
7. Am
The Amiri is a pastoral and agricultural tribe numbering 5,000
souls and occupying the country round and south-east of Dhala,
their capital.
The original Emirs of Dhala were Muwallads or half-caste slaves
of the Imams of San'a. When the power of the latter was broken
up, the Dhala district was in the hands of certain Seyyids, from
whom it was seized by the forefathers of the present chief. There
has been a long line of Emirs, and since the occupation of Aden
by the British these chiefs have been in receipt of a subsidy, except
during the period from 1873 to 1878, when the Ottoman Govern
ment made a strong aggressive effort to place the district under
their own control.
By allegiance or conquest several additions have been made to
what may be called the district of Dhala proper. These consist of
Kharafah, Jebel Harir, the valley of the Suheibiyah as far south as
Qaflah, the Dhubayyat hill (only nominal), Sufyan, and Zobeid.
The population of the Amiri territory is of a mixed nature.
Firstly, there are the descendants of the original Amirs, constituting
a large clan, although, as at present, not always united; secondly,
such Sheiri Sheikhs as are content to acknowledge the authority
of the Emir ; thirdly, the various settlers who have from time to
time become possessed of land which thej^ cultivate ; fourthly,
the ever-present Seyyids or descendants of the Prophet; and,
lastly, a colony of Jews.
The Emir is Nasir ibn Sha'if ibn Seif, who lives at Dhala. He
became Emir in 1911 and is the son of Sha'if ibn Seif 'Abd el-Hadi,
who attended the Delhi Durbar during the Boundary Commission
of 1902. He is a man of 36, good-natured, but weak and avaricious
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