File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎167r] (329/508)

Rs 50 n innr.tli mnv l,e pn.d to the Kotaibi Chief through the Amir of D’.hala
rn ' h< ‘ ma -y,, be /-'ranted a present of 50 rifles «i,b 100 rounds of
fimmm ition per rifle. I n return for this concession the tribe would he heU
respousihle loi the safety ot the Habilen portion of the Aden-DMinla road
Although under the terms of the Amir’s treaty with us, he oueht to be
able to keep the Kotaihis in order without further assistance, vet. as he
obv.ousiy cannot do so, we propose, with your approval, to sanction the
arrangement suggested, winch is approved by the Bombay Government.
- p 10. Next, as regards the Alawi tribe. They at present receive a stipend
of Ks. 50 a month, an amount which is considered inadequate by the Resident.
He therefore recommends that it may be doubled, subject to die condition that
the Alawi shall he responsible for the safety of the portion of the eastern trade
route Tying between Jimil and A1 Hajar. The Resident also recommends that
the Alawi Chiei s post at a place calted Dar-al-Quabtan may be moved to a
village called Mabaja^where he should be required to maintain 20 efficient
men, the post at Dai-al-Quabtan being dismantled. The object of this measure
is, apparently, to reduce the chances of fighting between the Kotaibis and
Alawis, who are at enmity with one another. The Bombay Government have
made no recommendation on the subject of the proposed stipend for the Alawi,
hut as the arrangement seems to us to he a suitable one, we propose with your
approval to sanction the payment of this allowance direct to the tribe. The
post at Dar-al-Quabtan will be dismantled in the manner suggested. As a
further insurance against trouble with the Alawis it is contemplated that on our
withdrawal the post of Suleik, which is at present garrisoned by us, should be
destroyed; since if it were left standir g it would fall into the hands of the
Kotaibis and would be used by them as a base of attack against the Alawis.
11. It remains to consider the recommendation as regards the Haushabi. ;
The Resident proposes that the stipend already received by the Haushabi Sultan;
should be increased by Rs. 50, and that he should be given 50 Martini-Henry
rifles and 1,000 rounds of ammunition to assist him in guarding the portion
of the road from Nobat Dakim up to Jimil and also the Mavia caravan road.
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 their letter No. 7037, dated The 10th November
1906, have recommended that any pressure wffiich it. is desired to bring
to bear on the Haushabi should he exerted through the Abdali Sulfan of
Lahej. In making this recommendation they refer to a letter No. 1804, dated
the 5th March 1906, in which they urged the adoption of a policy of bolstering
up the Sultan of Lahej against the sub-tribes. There are various objections
which may be advaneed against this policy as a general principle, but, in the
present case, as the Haushabi stipend is now paid through the Abdali
Sultan, there seems to be no reason why, if the increased stipend is to be
granted, it should not be paid in the same way. We, therefore, propose with
your approval, to concur in the proposed arrangement.
12. Finally, the Resident recommends that, the post at Nohat Dakim
should be handed over to the Abdali Sultan. It appears that the Abdali
Sultan has a right to possess the fort when it is evacuated by us, and the
Resident’s proposal may accordingly be accepted.
13. We venture to think that there is every reason why the measures
devised by General DeBrath with a view to apportioning responsibility for
the road should be brought into force before Major Jacob leaves D’thala, since,
otherwise, the withdrawal might be the signal for ourr^es on the road and
disturbances amomr the tribes which would make the situation a very difficult
one for the Resident to deal with from Aden. We would, therefore, suggest
tiiat the Resident should be directed to introduce these arrangements without
delav, after which the withdrawal may be effected, at the discretion of the
Resident at the earliest convenient date.
14. With regard to the conduct of affairs after the withdrawal, we concur
with 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. that it will be advisable, in order to assist the nego
tiations of the Resident with the tribes and with the Turkish authorities, that a
Political Officer should occasionally be deputed with an escort to the frontier.
We cannot conceal from ourselves that these visits will be attended by some
risk, but the Resident will no doubt take every precaution to minimise this and