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File 600/1905 Pt 5 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Sultan of Balahaf' [‎157r] (97/152)

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The record is made up of 1 item (74 folios). It was created in Sep 1904-Jul 1906. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Abdulla denies the authenticity of this document and his signature to it. But
nevertheless it was quite possibly passed, and it may at least be granted that
such restitution was perfectly equitable. This reduced Saleh’s share to his
original Jth share in the customs dues of Balahaf including all the items pre
viously mentioned as appertaining to them.
32. As to his share in the Habhan dues, i.e., half of the existing dues now
collected at Balahaf, the division of those was as above stated different. Of
those Mohsin was allotted a fths share and the remaining fths was distributed
amongst the other shareholders. It may be held that Saleh pwns a one-fifth
of these. And his total share may be thus held to be approximately i by J -f
J by i, i.e., a total of 4 a 0 ths of the present dues, the balance being distributed
much as follows :—
ifths to Mohsin and 4 a 0 ths to each of his two brothers.
33 . This distribution is slightly complicated by a dispute as to the devolu
tion of Ahmed bin Ali’s share upon his death which recently occurred. Mohsm
contends that Ahmed left a will appointing him executor of this. But he has
not produced the will, and Sultan Saleh disputes it and contends that Ahmed’s
share naturally devolves upon him as the nearest of kin.
34. Another source of difference is that Sultan Mohsin now claims that
the greater part of the money received from Government as stipend and pre
sents 0 should go to him instead of being distributed as before amongst the share
holders in proportion to their shares in the Balahaf customs. In regard to this
Mohsin has submitted a document, dated the 2' th February 1900,^ which pur
ports to be a compromise under which 70 dollars a year from this source was
assigned to Sultan Saleh, the balance going to the other side of the family.
Sultan Saleh denies the authenticity of this document also. But it may be
admitted that Sultan Mohsin as the generally recognized tribal chief, has a claim
to a larger portion of the stipend than the other shareholders in view of the more
important and thus more expensive nature of his position.
35 But another dispute is also connected with this point and concerns
the amount of the dues collected which should be assigned to the soldiers or
‘'Askari”actually effecting the collection. Under previous arrangements it
has been apparently customary for £rd of the original customs dues and yth ot
theHabban dues go to the “Askari,” the balance being distributed to the
shareholders according to their shares. And I gather that m former days it
was the custom to also deduct expenses of entertainment, etc., from the dues
collected before the distribution of shares was effected.
36. There is no doubt that the whole question of distribution of revenues
has been somewhat complicated by Mohsin’s rise to power and the enhancement
of the Balahaf dues which thereby originated. I have pressed the S « ltan s to
come to an amicable arrangement in the matter, and it may be hoped that they
will eventually do so. There seems to be no reason for us to settle these private
disputes for them, and the proper mode of settlement would appear to be for
them to eventually refer the matter to some of the leading Sayids of the district
and accept their arbitration if their differences cannot otherwise be oveicome.
37 For the purposes of this inquiry it is sufficient to state that as far as I
can ascertain Sultan Saleh’s share with which he has endeavoured to part is
really a 4 s 0 ths and not a one half share m the total revenues of the poit.
38 I gather that he has already received a part payment for this from the
Kayti of 2,200 dollars. This will presumably lead to some sort of trouble if
his transaction does not receive the sanction of Governmen . ^ inferior
meet that eventuality Sultan Saleh has pledged some of his lands in the interior
to the Kayti, which it may possibly be impolitic to allow the Kayti to acquire.
39. To conclude it would perhaps be sound policy, if Mobsm is recognized
as the titular Chief and Sultan Saleh’s transaction with the Kayti is negatived,
to grant Mohsin such support in the way of increased stipend as may enable
9
481DF

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Part 5 of the file relates to the negotiations over a treaty with the Wahidi [al-Wāḥidī], ruling family of Balahaf [Balhaf] and Bir Ali [Bīr ‘Alī].

The correspondents include:

Several matters are covered by the papers, including:

  • the power struggle between Sultan Mohsin bin Saleh (al-Wāḥidī) and his father, Saleh bin Abdullah;
  • Mohsin bin Saleh's submission to the British in December 1904 and his subsequent election as chief of Balhaf;
  • Saleh bin Abdullah's attempt to sell his share of Balhaf to Sultan Ghalib of Maculla [al-Mukallā];
  • the conclusion of a treaty with the Wāḥidīs on 13 November 1905.

Folios 158-161 contain tables of information on the tribal sections and sub-sections under the Wāḥidīs authority, a list of Wāḥidī villages, and a Wāḥidī genealogical chart.

Folio 148 is a copy of the final treaty between the British and the Wāḥidīs.

Extent and format
1 item (74 folios)
Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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File 600/1905 Pt 5 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Sultan of Balahaf' [‎157r] (97/152), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/75/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026748150.0x000077> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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