'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎125] (144/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
125
that occasion by Commander S. B. Haines, and by Lieutenant
E. W. S. Daniell, so justly commended in your despatch, are
well deserving of some distinguished mark of our approbation;
and we have accordingly resolved to present Commander Haines
with a sword of the value of 200 guineas, and Lieutenant
Daniell with one of the value of 100 guineas, each with a
suitable inscription. The sword intended for Commander
Haines will shortly be sent out to you for presentation to that
officer.'
"Para. 3.— 4 We have further resolved, that, as a token of
our approval of the conduct of Mr. Midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. Nisbett, and in
consideration of the severe wound he received during the attack
of Aden, he be presented with a donation of 500 Company's
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , which you will forthwith cause to be paid to him.'"
For many years after the capture of Aden, much hard fight
ing for its defence was necessitated by the repeated attempts of
the Arabs to retake the stronghold ; and on all these occasions
the Red Sea squadron of the Indian Navy, of which Aden was
the head-quarters, afforded valuable co-operation in repulsing
the enemy. Commander Haines was appointed the first British
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Aden, having as his assistant. Lieutenant
Jenkins, who was nominated to the post, as a rew 7 ard for his
good service in the ' Wellesley,' under Sir Frederick Maitland.
Lieutenant Jenkins held this appointment from the 1st of
January, 1840, to the 10th of September, when he proceeded to
England on sick leave,* and was succeeded in the office of
Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , by Lieutenant C. J. Cruttenden, who,
from his linguistic acquirements, and his familiarity with the
political condition of the neighbouring nationalities, was well
fitted for the post.
Commander Haines' first object, says Captain Playfair, in his
44 History of Arabia Felix," was to throw up temporary defences,
sufficiently strong to resist a sudden attack, and to keep the /
Arab tribes quiet till this had been effected. In both he was
successful, and a line of field works was speedily constructed
across the isthmus, on the site of the old, so-called, Turkish
fortification. Before the expirat ion of the month of January, 1839,
a treaty of peace and friendship was concluded with the Azaiba
tribe, a branch of the Abdali; and, in February, the Sultan
himself, and the chiefs of the various surrounding tribes,
namely, the Akrabi, Subaihi, Yaffahi, Foudtheli, Sherjehi, &c.,
executed similar engagements. On the 9th of March, a Euro
pean soldier, having imprudently strayed beyond the fortifica
tions, was murdered by an Arab, who managed to effect his
* Lieutenant Jenkins returned to England, via Egypt, and while there, at the
request of the British Consul-Q-eneral, accompanied him and some of the Foreign
Consuls to present the ultimatum to Mehemet Ali, Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Egypt, and he then
proceeded to England with, the despatches of the Consul-Greneral to Lord
Palmerston.