'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [‎76v] (157/308)

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fell^11 be apportioned as may be hereafter arranged between the Political
llesident, the Abdali Sultan and the Railway Company.
XVI. The Railway Company shall issue a special warning to all their ^
employees and passengers to abstain from any acts which might offend the
religious susceptibilities of the subjects of the Abdali Sultan. In regard to
such matters and also in regard to the establishment and management of
refreshment rooms on the line, the Railway Company shall abide by the advice
of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Aden. No refreshment rooms shall be opened on
the line within Abdali limits without the permission of the Abdali Sultan.
XVII. In lieu of the concession to construct a railway through Abdali,
territory and in lieu of rent on the land granted for the purpose, the Abdali
Sultan shall receive as royalty such percentags of the net profits of the railway
as may be arranged with the sanction of Government. Such proportion of this
as may be arranged with the sanction of Government shall be allotted as
a personal royalty to Sultan Sir Ahmed Padthl and his direct lineal
descendants.
XVIII. Sultan Sir Ahmed Fadthl of the AbdaRshall either in his own
name or in that of his sons or relations be admitted to partnership in the
Railway Company on such terms as may be arranged.
F. DE B. HANCOCK,
AHMED FADTHL MOHSIN.
Aden ;
The 16th November 1905.
No. 7510, dated the 10th December 1905.
From— Major-General H. M. Mason, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Aden,
To—The Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. in the Political
Department.
In continuation of my letter No. 7093, dated the 19th November 1905, and
as promised in paragraph 2 thereof, I now have the honour to forward the map
prepared by the Assistant Commanding Royal Engineer, Aden Brigade,
showing as requested in your letter No. 4528, dated the 20th July 1905,
approximately the site of the terminus proposed in Aden and the route the line
will follow through the Hinterland up to Nobat Dakim.
2 . I attach copy of the Assistant Commanding Royal Engineer’s letter
No. 3350, dated the 2nd instant, and of the accompanying report from which
the present attitude of the Abdali Sultan will be sufficiently apparent. His
views will be further ascertained in due course after those of Government have
been received. ‘ -
3. As to the extension of the line above Nohat Dakim, I am of opinion
that this will be desirable at as early a date as possible in the direction of Mavia
by which the more important caravans of the fertile Taiz District now proceed.
In this connection I have the honour to invite reference to paragraphs 23 and
24 of Mr. EitzMaurice’s despatch to the Foreign Department of the Govern
ment of India, dated Perim, 30th April 1905, and to state that the Political
Officer at D’thala has been requested to submit a confidentiaL report in due
course upon that actual possibility of any rectification of the border in the
vicinity of Mavia.
4. As to the proposed terminus in Aden, I am of opinion that this should
be at Maala and that if possible a public wharf should be constructed near the
Aden Coal Company’s Wharf at Hedjuff to which a double line of rail should
extend. This pier would be within the 1,200 yards zone of the Hedjuff
defences, but would in no way mask the fire thereof. The pier would be right
under the defences and could not be reached by an enemy seeking for cover.
5. I pointed this out myself to General Parsons, the Inspector-General of
Artillery, on the occasion of his recent inspection of the Aden Defences, and he
expressed the opinion that it could in no way prove detrimental to the defences
of Aden, r