File 600/1905 Pt 2 'Aden Hinterland: Future Policy' [‎338r] (163/226)

v Qi an . uttimatum would be sent to the Attifl and
Yusufi Sheikhs, and if demands, still remained uncomplied with within a speci
fied period, raiding parties would be despatched into the surrounding country
fo+hp 2^ a- 1 a J a . llable 1 } v ®“ s t 0 ck and to destroy crops and dars belonging
to the offending tribes. A1 Kadthi being a place generally regarded as holy
would probably not itself be destroyed. The treatment accorded to A1 Faira,
oftlm'hffiaMtan^ 111 Turan of course ’ largely depend upon the attitude
* y 17 ; 1 T1 1 0 are unfortunately a very nomad clan and have no really
fixed abode to form the object of direct attack, and it is, therefore, not possible
to accurately foresee the extent of the punishment which it may be possible to
mulct upon them in the manner suggested.
18. Of course, should active opposition be met with from any of the
other sub-tribes in the vicinity punishment would be inflicted upon them, the
detail of which would have to be also decided by the Political Officer on the
spot according to circumstances.
19. Necessary operations would probably not take long to complete, and
the punitive force would then retire by the routes originally traversed. At
Amrija I do not anticipate opposition, but reinforcements will, of course, be held
in readiness at Aden ready to proceed there at a few hours’ notice in the event
of necessity. These reinforcements would consist of European troops which are
not included in the main expedition.
20, At Ras-al-Arra H. M. S. Proserpine should be stationed pending the
return of the Southern Eorce, and prepared to render any special assistance
which may be necessary.
21. Arrangements would, of course, be made by the Military authorities
for supplies and to generally carry out the details of such an expedition.
Letter dated the 3rd February 1906.
From— Sheikh Ali ha Saleh, the Attifi, and Sheikh Saleh lin Saleh-am-Thol-
tain, the Yusufi ;
To—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. and his Assistant.
We have received your letter by the hand of Sheikh Mashwal-as-Suwailmi
in which you write about the raiders who had committed an outrage at Sheikh
Othman. They were ignorant people and had left without our knowledge.
They raided when we were absent from our country. Some of our animals
were plundered by the Alkamis, and we went in their pursuit. They (raiders)
resolved to make the raid after we left after the animals. They started to
attack their enemies, but they do not know the places. It was not their
intention to deliberately carry away your property or to offend against your
children and they did not know that what you have mentioned in your letter
to us would happen. You write us about the murderer; there is hostility
between the Ahl-al-Ban and us from before and of olden times. They had
killed the son of Rajeh Mohsin, and the persons who killed him were Ahmed
Abdul Wahid, Jabr-al-Ban, and Mohamed Ubeed who has his dagger and gun.
The Ahl-aLBan and the Abdalis attacked us again and killed the Akil of our
country, Ahmed ba Saleh and Ali Ba Saad, the Yusufi. They plundered us of
40 she-camels and 60 cattle, but the Government did not think of punishing
them for the loss of our relations and property.
You write us about the limit. All the limits are belonging to Govern
ment, we and the Abdalis are the subjects of Government; but if you consider
that we are not in your limit, we want a certificate to be given to us to that effect.
The post was robbed when we were away, and the Mansab had secured it
until we came back. We have already sent it to you. We could not give it
to any one before, as we were afraid of your punishment, but as soon as we
have received your letter we have delivered it to the son of Saeed Jaffer. We