File 600/1905 Pt 2 'Aden Hinterland: Future Policy' [‎349r] (185/226)

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selvef'^riatt^ l™ constant !y at P^^er amongst them-
• e i S ‘v 1 6 i ia 1 ter Sa ^ “ ie Haushabi on accession sraye them no nresonts anrl
it is believed, whatever the cause he of their animosity, that hy these reprisal
on the trade-route the Dthambaris wish to blacken ’Ali Mani^face/ ’ I do not
understand how ’Ah Mam’ will stop these raids on that particular route unless
he he allowed to garrison al Millah with 4,0 or 50 men. This is his Wish if
given by us a fair number of rifles. The proposal is a good one, and will enable
us to relieve the detachment there. Doubtless, the levy system is the very best
we can devise all along the route. By it we put cash into the pockets df the
people and give them an interest in preserving order. The Dthambaris feel
themselves out in the cold. They are marauders from their youth. Give them
some remunerative work which, if faithfully carried out, will further tend by the
increase of trade to relieve their present impoverished condition and they will
prove fast and useful friends. On the other hand, reprisals in the form of
pumtiye expeditions work temporary wonders only, and in their train rancour
and ill-will in perpetuity. I would encourage the fraternisation of these two
peoples by establishing, as soon as we can, mixed posts of Haushabis and
Dthambaris on the Habil Shams. In the interim some action is necessary to
reduce the number of these oft-recurring misdemeanours. I would recommeud
what^ the^ Haushabi Sultan and ’Alawi Sheikh have urged. I have myself
practised it uith the Sha iri-tribe near Dthala. It is the well-known plan of
blockade. I propose to shut out all Dthambaris from Dthala, Lahej and Aden
till the loot now taken has been restored. This punishment has the merit of
being such as the Dthambaris can terminate as soon as they will. Its duration
is in their hands. Its inclusive scope serves to bind the clansmen together.
Where a few misbehave, the whole are made to suffer. They will see that the
well-being of the community at large is dependent on the" good behaviour of
each and every section. In Somaliland we used also to keep as political detenus
in Berbera what were called “ goodmen,” i.e., men whose detention was felt by
their fellows who would hasten to redeem them. The ransom figure was the
value of the loot taken. It was not necessary that these detenus should be in
any way connected with the crime. Saiyid Eadthl bin ’Alwai, an influential
man of the Badfan country, himself advocated this system and says all the
Chiefs en route would gladly combine. I strongly approve.
3. As to the dia due for the Bada’i murder. The murderer is at lar^e
and his whereabouts unknown. I again impressed on the Sultan his responsi
bility in the matter, and that he could not expect Turkish co-operation unless
he himself set a good and prompt example. I told him I would not ordinarily
interfere with blood-feuds in his own limits, off the trade routes, in cases where
his own subjects exclusively were concerned, but that this particular case was
outside his purview to settle as he thought best, and that the sum of $ 300
must be handed over to me. This he promised to do at once. He would, if
necessary, deduct the same from his dues drawn at Lahej. I left him to deal
hereafter with the property of the murderer in Haushabi limits.
4. On my way to Ad Dareja I w 7 as accosted by Nash* bin ’Ali, the Akil of
Mabrak who complained of the Turkish subject across the border,
the al Wajihi. I instructed the Sultan to make a specific complaint in
writing.
the caravans to Dthala should be diverted through Musemir, along the Makhran
the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Tiban route used by the Amiri tribes of the Hamada and AhmedSf,
and also the Karabi (Turkish).
I do not set much value on his suggestion, but introduee it because of the
I am sure this is the end to which we must work. There is no other way to
check excessive and illicit dues. The focussing of the collection at one place is
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