LAHADJ. 117 
OD the adjacent mountains fall so heavily, that the river which 
passes Lahadj, though at times nearly dry, swells into a prodigious 
torrent. 
The verdant strip of land bordering on each side of the river is 
about three miles broad, and forms a very valuable part of the 
territory, as is generally the case with respect to the banks of 
most eastern rivers. Beyond it, to the northward, lies a barren 
and rocky district, which extends to the foot of the mountains 
occupied by tribes of the Abada Arabs, who, when occasion 
requires, flock in multitudes to join the standard of the Sullaun : 
they are a small, but a stout and compact race of men, and 
constitute some of the best soldiers in Arabia. 
It would be difficult to find a person whose lot is more to be 
envied, than that of Sultaun Hamed : by his able and judicious 
line of conduct, he has raised his seignory to a respectable rank 
among the principalities of Yemen, and by his constant solici- 
tude for the welfare of his subjects, has fully become entitled to 
the appellation of Father of his country,'' which is now com* 
monly bestowed upon him by his people. The more respectable 
Arabs of this district seem, indeed, to inherit a peculiar and dis- 
tinctive character, bearing a very near aflinity to the patriarchal 
simplicity of their forefathers. From the descriptions given by 
the accurate Niebuhr, I am led to suspect that this honourable 
distinction prevails throughout a great part of the interior, form-* 
ing a very striking contrast to the debauched manners of the 
inhabitants dwelling on the upper coast. 
On the evening of the 9th, having taken a friendly leave of 
the Sultaun, we returned on our way to Aden, as far as the cara- 
