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File 869/1904 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎105v] (219/540)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (266 folios). It was created in 29 Oct 1902-23 Dec 1908. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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52
The importation and sale of arms is still a flourishing trade in Djibouti. A
certain number are sold and re-exported
Arms tra o. A ra | 3 j a) majority seem to go
through Abyssinian Somaliland into the Ogaden country. This trade seems to
be connived at if not (encouraged by at least the lesser Abyssinian officials.
Arms, etc., going to Arabia from Djibouti are eventually introduced to the
eastern parts of the Protectorate and undoubtedly a goodly percentage are sold
to the Mulla. Arms introduced through the Ogaden country doubtless even
tually find their way into the hands of the Mulla or his followers. The arms
are sold both at Djibouti and Dera-Dowa.
On 3rd June, a Warsangli was arrested in Maala with 300 rounds of
ammunition in his possession. He was
Arms traffic. sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.
Three Mijourtein men, Esa Earah, Ahmed Sungoyeh and Ahmed Shirwa,
have, under orders from the Mulla, gone to Maskat to purchase arms and
ammunition. They are well provided with funds. The man Osman Derwish
referred to in my last report was released from prison, and has left Aden for the
“ Harouu ” via Bossasso. Captain Christian, R.N., arranged for his passage in
a Mijourtein dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. . Osman Derwish is himself a Mijourtein. A Zeyla fishing
dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. arrived from the Makhir coast, but the crew know nothing of any impor
tance.
Although the Mulla is still in possession of a considerable number of
rifles (roughly estimated at from 1,000 to
1,500) there is little doubt that he is at
present very short of ammunition. After a recent visit to Illig the Italian
Consul-General expressed the opinion that the Mulla’s temporary inactivity
was due to the necessity of replenishing his stock of ammunition, a supply of
„ , , ^ . which he was then expecting to reach
him through the Baghen country. Owing
to British and Italian surveillance over the sea-borne traffic in arms, it seems
that the Mulla is at present mainly dependent on the overland traffic from
^ , » , Djibouti to Abyssinian Somaliland, and
thence through the Baghen country. The
importance of closing this channel of supply has been represented to the
Abyssinian Government through the British Minister at Adis Ababa, and as a
result the Emperor Menelek has promised to send immediate orders to check
the traffic in the Arussi country, which seems to be the chief medium of
supply.
It is open to question whether the Mulla obtains arms or ammunition
through the Warsangli port of Las Khoral. The present friendly intercourse
between the Warsangli and the Derwishes is probably more of a commercial
than of a political nature. Owing to the disadvantages of Illig as a port of
call for native craft, the Mulla finds it more convenient to obtain his food and
clothing supplies from Las Khorai, which has a long established and direct trade
with Aden and other Arabian ports. Every possible precaution is taken by
both traffic. The Warsangli Sultan has been frequently warned of the conse
quence of importing arms and ammunition, and the Protectorate armed dhows
search all native craft putting in at Warsangli ports.
Extract from the weekly letter of the Resident at Aden, dated the 28th July 1907.
*****
12. The same correspondent writes that the Zaranik tribes are actively
importing arms from Jibouti at a place called A1 Jah or, when they fear
interruption by^ one of the Hodeida gunboats, at Mutaina near Mokha. The
arms traffic is said to be particularly rife at Bamadah, where a rifle can now
be had for 8 dollars and 16 cartridges for a dollar.
*****

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Content

This volume is the second of three successive volumes of correspondence (IOR/L/PS/10/32-34), relating to the British prohibition and suppression of arms traffic between ports in Aden, the Red Sea and the coast of East Africa. The volume contains copies of ‘The Somaliland Registration of Vessels Regulations, 1904’ and the ‘Aden Sea-traffic in Arms Regulation, 1902’. There is substantial correspondence about amending the 1902 regulation, together with revised drafts made in 1907 and 1908. Correspondents are officials at the Foreign Office, the 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. and the Admiralty in London and the British Ambassador at Paris, as well as officials in the Government of India Foreign and Political Department and in the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. Political Department. Other notable correspondents are the Commander-in-Chief for the East Indies Station, the Commander and Senior Naval Officer for the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Division, the Senior Naval Officer for the Aden Division, 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 the First Assistant Resident at Aden, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Muscat and the British Commissioner for the Somaliland Protectorate. Included in the correspondence are English translations of several letters sent and received by Sultan Ahmed Fadthl, The Abdali of Yemen (also referred to as the Abdali Sultan) in 1905 and 1907, and also by Said Faisal the Sultan of Oman in 1907.

The volume contains a small amount of correspondence in French, in the form of a letter from the Italian Consul at Aden to the First Assistant Resident at Aden in 1906 and a letter from the French Consul at Muscat to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Muscat in 1907. The diplomatic correspondence also includes several English translations of notes from the Italian Ambassador and the Italian Chargé d’Affaires at London, to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in 1907 and 1908.

The file includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (266 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 869 (Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden) consists of three volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/32-34. The volumes are divided into three parts, with each part comprising one volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 264; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The front and back covers, along with the leading and ending flyleaves have not been foliated. A previous foliation sequence, which is present between ff 145-264 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 869/1904 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎105v] (219/540), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/33, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100042383034.0x000014> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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