Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎333v] (671/1062)

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m, n f Lieut Eickards at Kisiin apparently had not been too
, T 16 The Beeident suggested to me that if “ Clematis ” cruise could be ex-
f 1 ’?a'to’include the vicinity of Kishin, he thought a useful purpose would be
tended to me i / oved by you “ Clematis ’’left Aden on 10th
December after embarking Lieut.-Colonel Cake Political Officer, at the request
.Uecemoei, the dual p Ur p 0 se o± the cruise to Kishm and also
to inquire into the circumstances of a tribal dispute between the Sultans of Bal
TT J and Bir Ali affecting the ownership ot the cargo of a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. which
threatened ^o cause trouble. With this object “ Clematis - put intq Bal Haf
and Bir Ali on the wav to Kishin, at which places the usual visits were paid,
accompanied by Political Officer, and it is believed as a result this dispute has
now been settled. The Sultan of Bal Haf was absent In the hinterland, his
uncle Sultan Ahmed bin Salih officiating, the Sultan of Bir Ah was absent at
Aden his son Sultan Thalab bin Nasir officiating.
Ill On arrival at Kishin a visit w T as paid by me accompanied by Lieut.t
Colonel'Lake to the son of the Sultan of Kishin and Socotra. The Sultan him
self was absent in Socotra. Our reception was not cordial, in fact, I under
stood at the time, from Lieut.-Colonel, Labe, who is an authority in such cases,
that it was distinctly rude. We were not offered coffee, kept waiting for a con
siderable period unnecessarily, and IJent.-Colonel Lake had difficulty in getting
any satisfactory answers relative to Flight Lient. Rickard’s visit. Generally the
attitude taken up appeared to he that aeroplanes and landing grounds were not
in the least wanted and facilities, for the latter did not exist. This last was eer-,
tainly not accurate since Lieut. Rickards it appears had experienced no diffi
culty in finding a duitable landing ground close to Kishin during his short stay
(about 6 hours only). However, this attitude was not entirety unexpected, the
Resident having hinted at possible “.obstruction ” before “ Clematis” left
Aden. For this there appeared no justifiable reason as it is believed corres
pondence had previously passed with the Sultan of Kishin and Socotra of a
favourable nature. The Sultan’s son excused himself from returning my call
on being invited on hoard for “ fear of being seasick ” ah “ old ” tale which
carried no conviction.
IV. From information obtained privately from two different sources, one
at Kishin and the other from a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. intercepted en route, it appeared that
Flight Lieut. Rickards had passed through Kishin about 10 days previously and
safely arrived at Dhofar, where no difficulty was anticipated as to the nature of
Ms reception. This information was communicated to Resident Aden, who
agreed with me that it appeared unnecessary for “ Clematis ” to proceed further.
V. On return passage to Aden, a short visit was paid to Mokalla of 24 hours,
for the purpose of embarking Abdullah bin Mohsin, brother of the Sultan of Bal
Haf, who was granted an indulgence passage by me to Aden, with a view to ex
pediting the settlement of the dispute mentioned in paragraph II, and a fur
ther short of 3|4 hours at Bal Haf for purpose of consultation. This was at
Colonel Lake’s suggestion. Our reception at Mokalla was of the usual cordial
nature and in marked contrast to that at Kishin. The Prime Minister, Syed
Bubukar Hussain bin Earned, who was officiating (the Sultan being absent in
en) was visited by Colonel Lake and myself at the village of Tyla, some 12
r 1 ? s n 1 an • pyed Buhukar Husain bin Hamed insisted on accompanying us
rnnm/nf n m ^e visit. At Tyla the party attended a wedding cere-
nreqonf inJf 1 y C lie \ a t * ie Pnrae Minister’s invitation. A large gathering was
present including a body guard of some 100 Bedouin soldiers.
Maolenri -p^A 01 !? \°n ^^ en Air Officer Commanding (Group Captain
which it’miD'kf'n m V? S ^ oca ^ :e an y suitable places along the coast
visits tor fML -n G pQsslb e to m . a ^ e US!e of? a s seaplane landing grounds. Short
en route A listen? 086 ^ as Makkada, Musseina and Has al Kalh
drawn’un in accord^ 0SS1 ^ 1 ?,Aden and Kishin has since been
Mm dirpet (conv to p 10 ' 0 p 1 °^ cers,s suggestions and communicated to
prospected ^ T In ^rtic^ar it is thought the lagoons
bahly the onlv two a ma y he found of use. These are pro-
KisMn. The remainino- loro coast between Aden and
and it is doubtful if thev sllC p R ^ e ^ are a ^ of the open anchorage type,
Whether these lagoons will 1( 3e -, re ^ le ^ UP0T1 • T1 strong monsoon weather,
known, hut it is under stool tofT* nS? ° r ^ enough for the nurpose is not
4?—, . ' le Air Officer Commanding, Aden, intends to take
further steps to reconnoitre these p!
aces.