OF DESCENT. 47 



name of this people (Adal) is derived. These two 

 families (the Burhanto and the Dinsarrah) have each 

 their own Chief, who alternately assumes the supre- 

 macy of the town on the death of the other, whilst 

 the next expectant fills the office of Vizier, or 

 chief adviser. This mode of succession does not 

 appear to be peculiar to Tajourah, but to be a 

 general principle of state economy through all the 

 important tribes ; for, in the same manner, I had 

 an opportunity of observing, was determined the 

 possession of the chief dignity among the Debenee; 

 and I was given to understand it was also the 

 custom of the S^ahamah, and the Muditee of 

 Owssa. The present Sultaun of Tajourah is 

 named Mahomed, and belongs to the Burhanto 

 family ; the Vizier, who was absent on a pilgrimage 

 to Mecca when we first arrived, was the principal 

 man of the Dinsarrah. He returned in time 

 to receive a present, to prevent him interfering 

 in the arrangements, which were then just com- 

 pleted, and a promise of future patronage on the 

 next occasion of a kafila being required by our 

 Government. His arrival accelerated, in some 

 measure, our departure ; for had we remained any 

 time afterwards, he would certainly, with his friends, 

 have compelled a change in the distribution of the 

 stores, and thus have led to another detention, or 

 perhaps would have entirely prevented their going 

 up to Shoa. Izaak and Cassim, who had had it so 

 far in their own hands, were therefore interested in 



