'Memorandum on the Turkish claim to sovereignty over the eastern shores of the Red Sea and the whole of Arabia; and on the Egyptian claim to the whole of the western shore of the same sea, including the African coast from Suez to Cape Guardafui.' [‎7r] (13/70)

9
In May of that year the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Egypt was told
that the British Government could not view with
indifference any attack on the independence of the
native Chiefs in the vicinity of Aden; and Lord
Palmerston informed the India Board that he saw no
reason why the East India Company's Agent at
Aden should not concluded Treaties of Friendship
and Commerce with the Chiefs whose independence
was threatened by Mehemet Ali, or why the Indian
Government should not afford those Chiefs any
assistance, he might think proper to help them to
defend themselves.
Senna was at this time (1840) evidently considered
by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Egypt to be independent, as His
Highness sent an Ambassador to the Imaum of Senna
with an offer to assist him with men, money, and
supplies if he would endeavour to drive the English
out of Aden, and promising in return that, on the
expiration of the war, he would yield the conquered
country to the Imaum.
Another proposition was also made by the same
Ambassador, that " the Imaum should make over
his Sovereignty of Senna to Mehemet Ali, who, in
return, would grant him a suitable pension for life,''
thereby clearly admitting his independence.
We must now turn back again to Egypt.
The French being already active in the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
began now to make their appearance in the Red
Sea.
It was generally believed that their real aim was
to gain a footing in Abyssinia; and as French ships
were sent to visit the coast, a British ship of war
was sent from Aden to watch their movements.
It was found that they had first endeavoured to
purchase a place in Assab Bay, but had failed ; that
they -had thereupon tried, first, by fair means, to
obtain possession of a place called Heyb (qy. Edd),
but that on the Chief expressing a wish to consult
the British Agent at Aden (Captain Haines) before
entering into any bond, they had threatened to use
an armed force to compel the Chief to comply with
their wishes.
In August of this year. Captain Moresby, of the
Indian Navy, received orders from the East India
Company to proceed to Tadjoura, and on the 19th
of the same month he concluded a Treaty of Peace,
Commerce, &c., on the part of the East India Com-
[201] D