File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎17r] (29/508)

I added that the Alawi had shown himself impotent to maintain
himself and entirely untrustworthy and I expressed my unwilling
ness to assent to the imposition of any additional road dues which
are in my opinion already too heavy. Beyond this I only urged
co-operation among themselves whereby each party should engage
to be responsible for the acts of his tribesmen wherever committed,
I further urged that they should agree to the prompt payment of
compensation by the Chief within whose limits an offence was coni’
mitted, and that they should bind themselves jointly to enforce
recovery from the Chief of the tribe to which the offender belonged
should the former show himself backward in paying up. I added
that I felt sure that Government would agree to any reasonable
decision that they might jointly arrive at so long as it made for peace
and permanency. At their request I embodied in a draft the pro
vision of a joint Agreement that seems to me to offer some real
chance of success if it only be acted upon in good faith. This they
have discussed among themselves and have professed thek readiness
to conclude. By their desire I have agreed on their executing such
an Agreement, to witness it and I have expressed my readiness to
recommend to Government
“ (i) that the transit dues heretofore levied by the Alawi shall in future
pass to the Kotaibi Sheikh ; l
“ (ii) that the additional stipend recommended in my No, 3419, dated
the 9th June 1906, for the Alawi as representing the responsi
bility formerly imposed upon him by the safeguarding of the road
of which he will in future be relieved, should pass to the Kotaibi
in consideration of his increased responsibilities;
“ (Hi) that the Alawi’s present stipend should be continued to him in
consideration of the original Resolution of Government in the
Political Department No. 3512, dated the 20th May 1875, under
which it was granted;
“ (iv) that the arms recommended for the Kotaibi in my No, 592, dated
the 27th January, 1907, should be given to him.”
6. The Government of India in their letter No. 2403-E.B., dated the 10th
V'/de also Bombay Government letter No. 180- July 1908, approved of these proposals
P., dated the 2nd October 1908. subject to the modification that the question
regarding the levy by the Kotaibi Sheikh of. the transit dues formerly levied by
the Alawi Sheikh should be left to the Chiefs concerned.
7. General DeBrath’s joint agreement proved unacceptable to the Chiefs
o and, as explained in this office letters quoted
I 908 tter N °* C 384> dated th6 9th September in the margin, signature to it was delayed
Letter No. C-497, dated the 2ist November from time to time. The Government of
1908. India thereupon in their letter No. 1812-
Letter No. C-305, dated the 23rd July 19H. dated the 29th September 1911
ordered the return into store of the 100 M. H. rifles and 10,000 rounds of ammuni
tion sanctioned for presentation for the Haushabi and Kotaibi Chiefs.
8. The only alternative left was therefore a reversion, in a somewhat modi
fied form, to the arrangements originally suggested. Proposals for an agreement
with the Haushabi Sultan have been submitted to Government in this office No.
C-193, dated the 14th May 1913. His Highness the Abdali Sultan has induced
the Alawi and Kotaibi Sheikhs to sign in his presence the following agreement
subject to the grant to them by us of stipend, arms and ammunition.
“1. I Sheikh Ali Nasher, the Alawi, do hereby undertake not to levy transit
dues more than 12 annas per camel load and to receive them at
Lahej ; I am not entitled to impose them at any other place.
“ 2. I take upon myself to make good any property belonging to the tra
vellers which may be taken away or destroyed by my tribesmen^
and to protect the territory extending from A1 Jum a to A1 Hajar.