'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎80v] (160/434)

4
Enclosure to Serin 1 No. (5).
(Extra/:?.)
Sec i' t on ‘ B
Kamaram.
4
News has since been received that Captain Wickham has had a serious break
down while on leave, and has decided to relinquish his post. He will return to
Kamaran, when fit to travel, for the purpose of winding up his private affairs.
Captain Wickham has been at Kamaran for some 15 years, and his illness and
consequent retirement will be much regretted not only by the present personnel of
the Red Sea Sloops but also by his many naval friends of earlier days.
Sts*******
. Malalia.
13. Arrived and anchored at 1030 on 22nd October. The Commanding
Officer called on the Wazir Minister. , Salem Ahmed Alkoati, His Highness the Sultan having
sailed for India some ten days previously.
The Wazir Minister. , who has only held the post for nine months (i.e., subsequent to
the last visit of a Red Sea Sloop in January 1934), is dull and unprepossessing
in comparison with his predecessor. He returned the visit at 1530 on the same
day, and was accorded a salute of 11 guns on his departure.
14. Business in the town appears to be flourishing ; the bazaar is full and
active, while the inhabitants present a remarkably cheerful and well-fed appear
ance, the latter in marked contrast to that observed in most South Arabian ports.
It is understood tha ; the construction of the motor road to the Hadramaut,
referred to in previous Reports of Proceedings, has made little, if any, progress in
the mountain districts.
15. On the 23rd I visited the English School, by the invitation of the Indian
Schoolmaster, Ibrahim Soogan, who for many years had taught in the Danish
Mission School in The Crater, Aden. The school, which was established some
6 months ago by the Sultan, is row attended three times weekly by about 60 boys,
ranging in age from 8 to 16 years, of whom a third are Indians.
After the inspection of the Guard of Boy Scouts, an Address of Welcome was
read by the senior student, and was followed by a demonstration of the principal
subjects of instruction.
Proceedings terminated by the singing, with much zest, of the National Anthem,
first in English and then in Arabic.
In a short speech I congratulated the Schoolmaster and his pupils on the results
achieved in so short a time, and laid emphasis on the great value and universal
appeal of the Boy Scouts’ Movement.
In the evening the Schoolmaster and nine of the senior Scouts came on board
and were shown round the ship.
16. It had been arranged with the Chief C mmissioner that a short visit should
be paid to Bal Haf while on passage to Aden (Bir Ali was not included, as the Sheikh
is at present in bad odour), but on the receipt of instructions (Admiralty message
timed 1416/20) that Their Lordships were to be kept informed of the details of the
reception ceremonies proposed for the forthcoming visit of His Majesty the King
of Italy to Aden, it became necessary to allow a larger margin of time for consult
ing the Chief Commissioner and transmitting the required intelligence. With
his concurrence, Bal Haf Was therefore omitted from the programme, and “ Pen
zance ” sailed at 0415 on the 24th for Aden direct, arriving at 0700 on the following
day. -