File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎183r] (361/508)

11
oUliers specially amenable to discipline and
their weapons/’
highly trained in the use of
„ ,, n rhe “ t, ' er c,l,ef P^Posals are as followsThe camels to hare IMit double
mounted 0 m ''T f Urgent o 60688 *^ 50 infantry or other men can be
* a ^ he ^roat advantages of this are obvious. And the arrangement
will render the Troop a much more powerful body than at present.” “
,, 45. r J he Pwecords of the Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. show that Colonel E. Y. Stace,
t vc Jjirst Assistant to the Resident at the time, felt strongly on the subiect of
the comparative uselessness of horsemen in an arid country where water was
scarce and suitable forage for horses difficult to obtain. Both on the Somali
Coast and at Am Rija in the Aden Hinterland he had personally experienced
the inconvenience arising from these difficulties.
46. With reference to the change effected it is, I think, to he remarked
that it was apparently mainly the outcome of experiences in Somaliland and
lurthermore of making a different use of the Troop to that for which it was
originally laisecl. The constant patrolling of earlier years was evidently a
thing of the past, and fighting was substituted as the main object in view.
The Arab Levy pronounced so essential by former officers to render the Troop
really efficient and so valuable for political reasons was by a stroke of the pen
reduced, because in the Essa expedition they had not been found a fighting
body and had been found somewhat lax of discipline. Probably under similar
circumstances similar complaints might have arisen of Belooeh scouts.
47. It may further, I think, be remarked that the comparatively undis
turbed state of the country which rendered it feasible for the Aden Troop to
be sent to Somaliland, Egypt and Abyssinia was very largely the outcome
of the excellent use to which the Aden Troop had up to that time been put in
accordance with its original object : which, it may be observed, was rather to
prevent fighting than to fight.
48. It may be that Cameliers are better adopted to the needs of the
Aden Protectorate than horsemen. In former days eminent opinion favoured
the horsmen. It would seem possible that the Arab, himself an excellent
Camelier, may not inconceivably regard with less fear and respect an opposing
body of Cameliers than a well-equipped body of Horsemen.
49. As to the reduction of the Arab Levy it seems open to question
whether this was not a political mistake and also whether it has not impaired
the usefulness of the Aden Troop for purely local purposes.
50. When Sheikh Othman was purchased in 1582 a small body of Arab
Police mounted on camels was raised for patrolling purposes. This consisted
of 1 Jamedar, 2 Havildars Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. and 12 men only, who were placed under the
exclusive control of the Assistant Resident in charge Sheikh Othman and were
called upon to furnish posts at Sheikh Othman, Imad, Bir Jabal, Hiswa and
little Aden. They were also called upon to furnish three orderlies, one for
the First Assistant Resident, one for the Officer in charge Sheikh Othman and
one for the Post.
51. In 1891 some correspondence took place regarding this small body,
which apparently had become rather mixed up with the ordinary Foot Police
of the Settlement and not treated as the separate body which it w T as apparently
originally intended that they should be. The correspondence arose owing to
some outrage committed at Sheikh Othman by the Subehi. And it is interest
ing to observe that the Aden Troop was then called upon to resume its old duty
of patrolling the roads and that the orders issued to the Troop included the
following words:—
“ An Arab guide will always accompany the Patrol. ,,
52. But this measure was only spasmodic. And arrangements were made
for the Aden Troop patrol to be withdrawn and relieved by a patrol of the small
body of Sheikh Othman Mounted Police. The orders then issued by order of
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. are of interest:—
“The Mounted Police are to be a separate body under the exclusive
control of the Assistent Resident in charge Sheikh Othman and are to be