File 600/1905 Pt 5 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Sultan of Balahaf' [‎171r] (125/152)

Confidential,
Accompaniments to letter to the Government of India, Foreign I)epartment y
No, 1060, dated lUh February 1905.
Letter No. 200, dated the 27th November 1904.
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—C. H. A. Hill, Esq., C.I.E., Acting Secretary to the Government of
Bombay, Political Department.
1 have the honour to report that in pursuance of the instructions contained
in vour No. 6864, dated the 9th November 1904, I started from Aden tor
Balahaf in the R. I. M. S. Dalhousi^ at 6 p . m . on the 22nd instant, arriving
at the latter place on the 23rd idem at 7 p . m .
2 It was hoped that Mohsin bin Saleh would be either at Balahaf or at
his usual head-quarters, Izzan, about 50 miles from Balahaf. Immediately on
arrival I sent my interpreter on shore. He brought back news that Holism
was neither at Balahaf nor at Izzan, but had proceeded to some < place about
24 hours’ journey further away from Izzan, and that even if intimation were
to be sent'to Mohsin by the quickest means available, it would not be possible
for him to meet me before 1 the 2nd December at the earliest. I could not,
of course, wait this length of time in view of the xact that Laid Curzon is
shortly to pass Aden on his way to India.
S I remained, however, the whole night and landed the next morning,
and mv personal enquiry confirmed the news brought by the interpreter as
i vnTriracticability of Mohsin meeting me before the 2nd proximo. I
thereupon decided to return, which I did on the afternoon of the 21th instant,
leaving however, the interpreter behind with a letter from me to Mo sin, in
which 3 ! explained to the latter that the intended interview could not take
nlace at Bakhaf, and that the only course left for him was to come to Aden
I guaranteed hiii safe conduct and promised that his personal liberty would
not be interfered with, though it would be necessary for him to remain in Aden,
till such time as the orders of Government were received. In the letter I
warned hi “also that, in the event of his not coming to Aden Government
would be orced to renew the blockade of Balahaf, and possibly to take such
measures as may be necessary to compel his ejection from Balahaf territory.
4 Before leaving Balahaf I had also taken the opportunity of interviow-
imr in tlm presence ot the Balahaf Customs officer and two others who had
^ nn board the prisoner Ahmed bin Saleh, whom I bad brought wit i me
S case he m jhtt P r“d, and impressed upon him that his conknemen
ISTheen
UtonTVfect^ch I thought it wouldV as well for Mohsin to know not
S ^om the letter which I caused Ahmed bin Saleh to write to his brother,
hut also from the lips of his own men.
^ I mav mention here that the port of Balahaf consists merely of the
• th^forto demolished under the orders of Government about two years
ruins ot the loruetaemon- ts _ At Balahaf there is no water,
and a half ago a “ ® a pi aoe distant about three hours’ journey. The
wlncn has to be obtame ’J, , u ,| iere a ma xi is stationed to collect
port is maintained merely as a fustoms post, wlierc clothj aad t!)e
the dues on the exports, eonsis in., p P tlirou' T h the place from and
IXttt!? S“i “l^^es Uiere J about 2d to 30
Bedowis known as soldiers, also stationed at the por .
l Besides ascertaining from the Customs officer the whereabouts of Mohsin,
0. Besides a. certai o ^ hi tllat his duty alter collecting the
d “s te^end imlf to llohsin aSd half to Saleh bin Abdulla, that the
con 1977— *1