File 600/1905 Pt 1 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Dthala' [‎450v] (162/174)

from A1 Aslum to the junction of the Selat Humar with the Selat Kataba, and then
follow the latter to the north of Lakmat-ad-Duki . .
Taking the line down the S. -Kataba, which is a broad depression almost entirely
unde, cultivation and contains the site of the village of Abara close to the well of that
name would have been most unsatisfactory;, while a line from A1 Aslnm to the junction of
" Ilnmar with the S. Kataba would run close to the walls of the Kataba barracks. The
Amir of Dthala set great value on the inclusion within his limits of the site and cultivation
nf Ab-jra We consequentlv gave to the Turks the cultivation in the W. Shaddad, which
entirely belongs to the people of Kataba, and, by leaving them free the road out of
Kataba passin- close to the junction of the S. Humar with the S Kataba induced them
o leave us the entire bed of the W. Abara down to Ukmat-ad-Duk. and to take the
line well free of the northern bank from Habil Khadr to Hab, Duwar, thus leaving on the
Amiri side a good deal of cultivation belonging to the Tub. village of Shakhab. The
Turks further agreed to include within our limits the cultivation near Kuii a Assoufla,
which was outside the line first drawn on Map C, and was claimed by both the Haiki and
Dakkann remar p that, though the line unavoidably crosses cultivation in parts, in no
instance has Amiri cultivation been left on the Turkish side, while the converse has
happened to no small extent. „ . . , , ,
As demarcation does nst imply disturbance of private rights, a document was
exchanged with the Turkish Commissioners, and copies given to the local representatives
on both sides, certifying that the inhabitants on either side ot the boundary would
continue, as heretofore, to enjoy all private rights in matters of real property, water,
grazing, and “ wakf.” This went a long way to remove the suspicions ot the natives that
the work of the Commission implied an interference with individual rights. _
7. The villages of Habil-as-Selami, Bir Kes, Jos-al-Jamal, and the site of Abara, as
also Lakmat-ad-Duki, now within the Amiri border, are Yubi; but this did not quite
reconcile the Amir to the work of the Commission not having resulted in vindicating his
claims to the remainder of the Yubi and Haiki villages. On the whole, however, he is
very pleased with his present boundary, and is deeply grateful to Government toi t e
restoration of his rights. . , ,
We took steps to introduce him to the local Turkish Representatives, wit i w om e
Amir expressed a strong desire to maintain cordial relations, and thus, if possi) e, avoi
any serious friction along his border. , . , ,
8. The settlement of the northern portion of the Amiri boundary effected with the
Turks, together wuth the excellent personal as well as official terms which we wen ou o
our way to maintain with them at the time, materially contributed to dispe tieir
suspicions that we were actuated by motives of territorial aggrandisement at tieir
expense. By keeping them in this frame of mind we were enabled to demarcate e
Haushabi border without undue delay, and, under the pretext of border survey, m nee
our Turkish colleagues to permit our surveyors to visit points in their territory well ^7°”
the area under delimitation. The results are very valuable, as w'e have thus been a e o
survey close on 500 square miles of Turhish territory beyond the border zone. < _
The Turks declared they would be able to justify to their own authorities ns
departure from the ordinary Turkish system of exclusion by representing that the lesu s
of the survey would be of great use to their Government whenever a regular survev o
Yeman should be carried out, a contingency, however, which they themselves^ looke r on
as very remote.. We undertook to give them the results of our survey in then teintory,
and have done so as far as the compilation of the maps in the field permits. We tius
there will be no difficulty in subsequently forwarding them, through the British ice
Consul at Hodeida, any such work as may not have been completed before we sepaiate.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. A. WAHAB, Colonel, ^
Commissioner, Aden Boundary Commission.
P.S.—The description of the boundary exchanged with the Turkish Commissioners
was in French, and a copy is hereto attached. , ^ r
R. A. W.
Copy forwarded, with compliments, to the Political Secretary, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
(Signed) B. A. WAHAB, Colonel,
Commissioner, Aden Boundary Commission.