File 600/1905 Pt 6 'Aden Hinterland: Upper Yaffai; treaties with Sultan Kahtan and other Chiefs' [‎89v] (174/212)

protective clauses. In translating the phrase “ gracious favour and protection 99 ,
the Sheikhs could not get over the word “humaiyah”, which is the nearest
Arabic equivalent for “ protection ”, They considered that it would have the
appearance of placing them in the same position, as regards the British
Government, as their own dependent tribes hold towards the Yaffai in
* general, and they frankly said that this would not he pleasing to their tribesmen.
Nevertheless, they readily accepted the succeeding clause, which contains the
undertaking to refrain from entering into any correspondence or agreement
with a foreign Power; also the next clause, binding themselves and their
successors not to cede, or otherwise dispose of, any part of their territory to any
Power other than the British Government.
15. It was pointed out to them that, if they insisted on the omission of
the first clause, they would place themselves at a disadvantage, in so much
that they would be binding themselves to certain things without obtaining an
equivalent. They replied that they were aware of the fact, but were content
to give the required undertakings without a formal promise of protection,
trusting that the British Government would come to their assistance it neces
sary. They added that, as regards the Turks, they were confident of being
able to keep them out of their country.
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16. I may add that, if I had pressed the protective clause, nothing would
have persuaded the Sheikhs that we had not ulterior designs on their country,
and as the omission of the clause clearly diminishes the responsibilities of the
British Government as regards the Mausatta, it seemed best to let it go
without making any great demur.
17. It will be noticed that both in this treaty and in that with the Dthubi,
the dependencies of the tribes are not named. This was purposely done in
accordance with the instructions contained in the Secretary of State’s telegram
of 4th May to avoid pledges likely to cause difficulty when demarcation
takes place. The most important dependency of these two sections appears
to be the Shaibi country, the inclusion of which in the British Protectorate
has been settled.
18. With regard to the stipends, I think a grant of forty dollars a month
to the Dthubi, and fifty dollars to the Mausatta, may be regarded as moderate.
It was not until after much negotiation that the latter was accepted, old Nakib
Ali Askar letting out, in the course of conversation, that they had expected to
get 300 dollars a month.
19. Sultan Kahtan came in almost on the heels of the Mausatta, with a
great following of over 200 men. This was a far larger number than he should
have brought down, and an effort was made to reduce their numbers at Dthala,
but practically without success. The first week of his stay in Aden was, there
fore, taken up in getting rid of this crowd, all of whom expected entertainment,
and some small present on leaving. W~e succeeded with some difficulty in
reducing the party to 28 persons, and were proceeding to settle the matter of
the treaty with every expectation of a favourable result, when letters were
received from Yaffai, through the Sultan of Lahej, that there had been a sort
of domestic revolution among the adherents of Sultan K. ah tan which had
1 resulted in his deposition, on the ground that he was selling the country to the
/ British, and in the election of his brother, Saleh, in his place; this seems to
' have been carried out by some of the Ahl Sheikh Ali, supported mainly by one
or two sub-divisions of the Dthubi. The Sheikhs of the Dthubi and most of
the section are, it is believed, quite staunch, and Sheikh Abdul llahman of the
Muflahi has told Captain Warneford that, notwithstanding this event, he
intends to visit Aden as soon as Sultan Kahtan returns. Captain Warneford’s
opinion is that the affair is not one of much importance, and that Sultan
] Kahtan will regain his position as soon as he gets back. Sheikh Ali Mohsin
Askar, the nephew, and probably successor, of Nakib Ali Askar of the Mausatta,
returned to Aden on hearing the news, and informed us that, as he himself
had been instrumental in bringing Sultan Kahtan to Aden, the latter would
receive support from the Mausatta (hitherto his principal opponents), and that
his restoration would be speedily effected.