File 869/1904 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎87r] (182/540)

15
5* In May 1905, information was received in tbis office from two sources
of the import of arms to small ports on the shores of tbis Protectorate, A
Somali informant laid stress on the fact that Arabs experienced no difficulty
in purchasing arms of Jibouti, which they afterwards sold to Somalis.
6. On the 18th June 1905, a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. flying Turkish colours was arrested by
H. M. S. Perseus in Imran Bay, with four French rifles and twenty-nine
rounds of ammunition concealed on board. She was subsequently released by
order of the Bombay Government, in view of the master’s contention that he
was only carrying the arms for his personal defence.
7. In the course of various interviews held wiih the Sheikh of the Juledi
sub-tribe of the Subehis in the course of the year 1905, it was perfectly
apparent that the import of French rifles and ammunition was a common
occurrence on the Attifi littoral between Sheikh Said and Aden.
8. Both the senior naval officer of the Aden Division and the Assistant
Resident, Perim, have also reported similar imports on the Turkish littoral
lying to the north of Sheikh Said.
9. Last December, the Assistant Resident, Perim reported the following
instances:—
(a) On the 24th November 1905, a dhow—the Fateh-abKhair —com
manded by Muhammad Hassan left Jibouti and landed 50 rifles
and 10 boxes of ammunition at Ras-al-Arab.
(bj On the 25th November 1905, the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. Al Heiaj, commanded by
Annbukkur Abdulla al Maabi left Jibouti and landed 100 rifles
and 20 boxes of ammunition at Dubab.
(e) On the 25th November 1905, a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. commanded by one Raid
Abdula left Jibouti with 80 rifles and 10 boxes of ammunition,
which he landed at Kadha.
These instances were doubtless not based upon absolutely unimpeachable
information, but were probably in the main correct.
10. In the third paragraph of my report No. 265, dated 14th instant, I
have alreary remarked upon the traffic between Lahej and Haura, on the east
coast of this Protectorate., And I can confid ently assert that a considerable
traffic in arms takes place on that coast, as well as on the coast lying to the
west of the Protectorate. Only a few days ago I was informed by a reliable
Native State official that many French rifles found their way into the interior
of the Aulaki district vid Balahaf. ...
11. A few days ago I received a letter from the Sultan of tbe Aulaki*
in which 1 was^ asked to> assist one of his agents-to proceed to Jibonti wheie
the Sultan desired him to expend $ 300 on the purchase of rifles.
12. It would seem unnecessary to multiply instances in support of the
contention that arms traffic is rife within the limits of this Protectorate.
13; This undoubtedly affects British Somaliland, but also seriously affects
this Protectorate. Only yesterday a postal runner carrying the mails was shot
within a short distance of the British village of Sheikh Othman, and has since
died : the mail being robbed. I have reason to believe that his assailants were
probably Attifi Subehis, and that they were armed with rifles of French
manufacture imported direct from Jibouti or Obokh to their coasts.
14. This is of course only a single incident of passing importance, but
should it be proved that the assailants were Attifis, and should it be decided
to take measures to secure their punishment or arrest, it is needless to point
out that, with the greater number of the Subehi tribes fully armed with
French- weapons of precision, this will prove a far more serious undertaking
than would otherwise be the case.
15. Similarly, any other action of a repressive or corrective nature, which
circumstances may any day necessitate, will be fraught with enhanced risk
and difficulty for a similar cause.