File 756/1917 Pt 1 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 1 to 65’ [‎521r] (1046/1240)

NOTES.
Oman*
Muscat i©ports (up to the end of: March) that there are signs
of the local u Imam’s ” popularity being on the decline as a result
of his efforts to raise zcihcit in advance. Rain has been scanty
and the pomegranate harvest a failure. The spirit of rebellion,
therefore, is not only quiescent, but possibly dying down. The
arrival in Muscat of Ali ibn Saif, agent of Sheikh Hamyar ibn
Nasir, as a guest of the Sultan, is regarded as symptomatic of
some attempt at a pacific arrangement being on foot.
South Arabia.
Aden reports, under date May 8, that the Kaiti Sultan of
Makalla is no nearer a settlement of his difficulties with the
Kathiri of the Hadhramaut, except for the one fact, that Ali
Said Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. has written to the latter stating his inability to arm
them or in other ways assist them. On the other hand, the .
Aulaki Sheikhs, from both the Tipper and Low r er districts and
also from Bir Id, are reported to have gathered at Makalla, to
make an agreement with the Kaiti, under which one shall assist
another against the Turks. The Sherif of Behan has
congratulated us on the capture of Baghdad, and says that he has
protected the Kadi Atik against a Turkish plot on his life. It is
rumoured, but not yet confirmed, that the old Fadhli Sultan has
been deposed at last in favour of Abdul Kadim, has accepted the
situation, and hns withdrawn to his <la,r in the hills.
Yemen.
Aden sends us news, under date May 15, which suggests
that earlier information (see iNlo. 37 p. 556 and No. 38 p. 23)
respecting a son of the Imam Ahihya leading an anti-Turk
movement was erroneous in one important detail at least. The
leader, Mohammed Yahya, is no son of the Imam, but a seyyid
of the Qasim house of Sanaa (the present Imam belongs to the
Shehara branch of that house), and is perhaps the same who has
been Emir of Midan in the Hasliid country. His full name is
now given as Mohammed Yahya ibn el-Hadi ibn el-Muayyad
billah el-Qasim. No doubt he is the individual indicated in
Mustafa Idrisi’s report printed in our No. 30 p. 445. He seems
to have numerous and influential support and will probably be
heard of again, for, according to latest information, his faction is
gaining strength. It is thought that Idrisi may come to terms j
with it in order to oust his enemy, the reigning Imam, and to j
secure, as his price, the Yemen Tihamah district which he covets. ]
By himself he seems unlikely to realize his ambitions. The j
Turks are evidently holding him up on the south, having moved, .
it is reported, their Hodeidah and Zebid garrisons up to Jarb on |
the Abs border. The Hashid and Bekil tribes are said to be
behind the revolutionary movement ; and if these will fight for
it, they will be more effective than if called out at the bidding of
Idrisi.