File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎179r] (353/508)

during which we have been its first friend, rendered at all times all our
endeavours m its good friendship, worked in all its interest, we were the first,
who assisted Government m inducing the people of the interior and drawing
them closer to its alliance and our good behaviour as well as that of our
?hnnu e i SS ° r8 ^ to ali severally and generally. We regret that it
hould be said of the Great Government, who is mostly renowned to have been
ac mg iaithfully, that after it lias fixed its claws in the extreme limit of the
hinterland, and Uie hinterland became open to it through our efforts and we
nave sustained in its cause expenses and trouble for a long time, should now
commence to recompense us in such a manner as to cancel a treaty which is
I 1 C> ir 1 fi l Ur * 10US ^ overrin[iea t while nothing was mentioned concerning its
nullification ere now. Oh friend, we cannot oppose Government even if it will
declare the revocation of all the treaties. To whom shall we apply to act as an
arbitrator between us ? Consequently we shall bear with endurance and refer
our grievance to God until the Government should again draw its attention to
the right or avert from it. As to the Jabira, we have no more grounds than
those already referred to you. If you are inclined to assist us in punishing
them and other Subehis and you consider that such is beneficial to you and us,
well and good ; otherwise, ^ we are not afraid that our country would be
conquered by any of the tribesmen. But as our limits are adjoining yours,
your supporting us to keep the abased evil-doers under restraint is of the
greatest means for the welfare. We do not know what are the causes which
caused your estrangement from us and the detraction of your attention from
the treaty for the restoration of tranquillity. If you have an object and you
prefer that the Subehis should continue their aggression and plundering the
travellers and committing their malicious acts on the routes in order that they
may give us trouble and cause us to suffer heavy expenses, and that you
•consider that we deserve the same in the face of our good friendship with you
such being deplorable case. Kindly communicate this, our whole letter, to the
Great Government.
Memorandum on the Political affaire of the Aden Protectorate, drafted with special reference
to the nature of the Armed Forces which it is desirable to maintain at Aden for local
purposes in connection therewith.
In the earlier days of the British occupation of Aden peace in the Interior
and undisturbed traffic on the roads was most uncertain. The adjacent Arab
Chiefs were engaged in constant feuds with one another. Men went about
armed either to defend their own lives or to assail a weaker enemy. The
country was continually devastated. There was practically no security to life
or property. Agriculture was neglected, and the scanty crops raised were liable
to be destroyed or carried off by the incursion of our unfriendly tribes. Outside
the walls of the Portress the life of a European was unsafe. In the general
lawlessness which existed, convoys carrying provisions and stores for the garrison
were systematically plundered. On several occasions maraudering bands com
mitted their depredations beneath the very walls of the Portress and in sight
of the sentries.
2. At that time Aden was comparatively isolated from India. There was
no man-of-war regularly stationed in the harbour. No regular line of vessels
called. Steam communication between Aden and Bombay occupied 15 days.
The Fortress and the town were dependent on the caravan trade for the
necessities of life. During a drought a supply of water was brought from
Sheikh Othman. The prices of provisions were exorbitant owing to the dangers
and exactions incurred by traders on the route to Aden.
3. The naturally fertile plains intervening between Aden and the moun
tains, which in older times were richly cultivated, were reduced to a wilderness.
'The people were reduced to a state of great poverty. Every man’s hand was
against his neighbour and instead of turning his attention to cultivation his
first thought was how to pay off some old plundering scores against a neigh
bouring clan or to be ready to resist the aggression of another. A matchlock
was in those days never carried without the match being lighted.
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