File 869/1904 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎148v] (305/540)

half a dozen men and Several women and children being visible, I saw no
Somalis. One of the men, an Arab, I recognised as having been one of the
principal offenders on the last occasion.
His former cornpariions had apparently considered it wise to keep out of the
way.
This man, named Oubayed bin Hamed, immediately accosted the Wali and
used similar expressions to those I had previously been favoured with.
He seized the Wali by the sleeve. and fiercely demanded why he had
brought us thcte again, we had no business there, clear out, etc.
I was surprised that the Wali allowed the man to talk to him in this manner
and I formed the conclusion that his authority could not be very great
I asked the Wali who the headman was. He said that there was none, but
the people were under the Shaikhs of the neighbouring villages whom he had’sent
for. These gentlemen arrived, affif some delay, with several of their people.
The Sultan’s letter was read to the assembly, and I demanded the produc
tion of the chief offenders and the Somali arms. The Shaikhs said they did not
know the men I described and knew nothing of the arms or any Somalis. They
also said that nobody lived in this village and the people who had insulted us
must have been strangers.
I told them that I Could hot accept this explanation in view of the large
number of houses (mat huts), women and children which was out of all propor
tion to the small number of men now in the village. ^
As to the arms, they pressed me to search the village and two bedans at
anchor. This offer I did hot accept as their anxiety that I should do so in order
to confirm their denial that arms were there indicated that it would only result
in waste of time, and the sun was getting low.
I found that the Wali instead of taking an active part in the investigation
was inclined to side with the Shaikhs and people on the defensive, and wished
to put the onus on me.
I told them that one man among them, Oubayed bin Hamed, could say, if
he chose, who the men were and probably where the arms are. I explained that
incivility and threats to British Officers and denial of the -ultan s authority could
not be lightly passed over and terininate with polite phrases and doubtful expla
nations. r
Also that the exportation of arms to Somaliland with which the A 1 Kbadhra
people were implicated was forbidden. Some one must be punished with a view
to preventing such occurrences in future. As neither the Wali or the Shaikhs
could produce the chief offenders, I insisted on the arrest of the only man present
I was able to identify. I offered to request the Sultan’s pardon for this man if
he would name the others and give any reliable information as to the present
location of the Somali arms. . '; r
. After considerable pleading by the Wali and Shaikhs on behalf of Oubayed
bin Hamed, the VVali^ finding that I would not yield arrested the man and I
returned to the ship with the Wali and his prisoner at sunset and conveyed them
to Suwaik. The Wali will keep the man in confinement there pending the
Sultan’s pleasure.
Perhaps on reflection the man wdll avail himself of my offer referred to above.
I enclose a letter from the Wali of Suwaik to His Highness the Sultan.
2. I trust that my action will meet with approval. I considered it expedient
both to advance British prestige and the Sultan’s authority as well as to streng
then the hand of the Wah which appeared to be capable of a little develop
ment. r
3 * action t0 vindicate British prestige is in n y opinion neces
sary. 1 he villagers are evidently frightened, and I think the arrest of Oubayed