'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎28r] (55/434)

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If). Port Sudan .—On account of reports from the British Legation at Jedda
of increasing tension between Saudi-Arabia and the Yemen on the ’Asir frontier,
it was decided to sail one day in advance of programme, in order to call at
Kamaran for further intelligence. The ship sailed accordingly at 17-00 on 19th
September, and arrived at Kamaran at 12-30 on 21st.
17. Kamaran .—The Administrator, Captain Wickham at once came on board,
hut had no further news to communicate. He felt certain that had hostilities
commenced in the coastal area they would have come quickly to his knowledge
from refugees, who in the prevailing northerly wind would soon have arrived
from the Jizan-Medi district.
Proceeded for Perim at 17-00 on the same day.
18. Pcrim .—Arrived at Perim 09-30 on 22nd September,
22. On the morning of the 25th the Sheikh (or ’Aqil) of Bir Suqaiya (a
coastal village 13 miles North-east of Perim) called on the Commanding Officer
to present a petition to the Chief Commissioner, Aden, in connection with the
recent disturbances in that area. These events, in brief, consisted of raids and
and my covering letter to the Chief Commissioner are shown in Appendix I.
(12.53 North, 43.25 East) and carried out armed patrol by motor boat as far
north as Dubbab (ZI) until dawn.
29. Weighed and proceeded at 06-00, and boarded two dhows—the first
encountered during the period of the patrol—in the approaches to the entrance
to Perim Small Strait.
This scarcity of dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. traffic is attributable mainly to the tension existing
between the Yemen and Saudi-Arabia, though trade in general is poor.
30. Passing through the Small Strait the ship anchored at 09-00 on 28th
off Suqaiya
31. The Commanding Officer and Interpreter at once landed, and were
received with great cordiality by the Sheikh, who had only just arrived back from
Perim (paragraph 22), and villagers.
No further developments had occurred in the district during his absence.
A copy of my further Report to the Chief Commissioner, Aden, is shown in
Appendix II.
34. Present in Aden was the Egyptian Government vessel Mabariss, which
has been placed at the disposal of the John Murray Expedition. This expedi
tion, under the Leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Seymour Sewell, Sc. D.
of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, is about to commence an extensive biological
survey in the Western Indian Ocean, which will also include matters of more
direct navigational interest.
It is interesting to note that during their passage from Egypt the expedition
anchored for three days in the Hanish Group, where they were* closely and some
what abruptly questioned as to their business by the Italian Askaris on Jebel
Zukur and Great Harish Island. It is understood, however, that their work
was in no way impeded.
Enclosure 2 to Serial No. (49).
APPENDIX I.
Enclosure to H. M. S. “ Penzance ,f —Report of Proceedings for the period 2nd
September to 1st October 1933.
After best compliments, I beg to state that I am the chief of Sokieya vide
a note of British Officer attached for your perusal and return. Sir, allow me to
lay may grievances that the Imam Government is asking from me and my tribe
*
demands for the payment of taxes by Imamic troops and tribes into villages in
the south-west extremity of the Protectorate. Copies of the Sheikh’s submission
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28.
Anchored at 01-30 5 miles to the southward of Chiltern Shoal
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