Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎510v] (1025/1062)

These latter dhows were stated to have sailed from Kamaran with passes
for Medi and Gizan but after taking 20 bundles of dungaree cloth and other
general cargo from the Yemenese dhows they were thought to have sailed for
Aseb to dispose of their gains. No further particulars were obtainable.
This information was passed by signal to the Senior Officer, Red Sea
Sloops, and the Resident at Aden has also been informed.
It is questionable whether these acts cannot be looked upon as a form of
naval warfare between the Imam and the Idrisi, rather than as lawless acts
upon the high seas.
When 1 asked why the Yemenese dhows did not defend themselves, Sved
Abdil Galil replied that whilst the Imam could arm many more dhows that the
Idrisi, he did not care to do so, as he looked upon the sloops as the guardians of
the sea, and in fact he had given special orders that his dhows were to proceed
unarmed.
This may or may not be true, but in actual fact, the Zeranics would always
be likely to get the better of a tight at sea, as they are a sea-faring race, whilst
their opponents are for the main part Hillmen, with but a small sea-board.
13. Jebel Zh/rwr.—Nothing to report. I consider it very unlikely that any
landing grounds for aeroplanes are to be found on the island.
^ * * * * *
14. Hodieda .—The ship anchored at 7 a.m., and a salute was fired by
arrangement at 8 a.m. It was returned immediately by the South Fort.
The local Consular Agent, Hassan, Konjuni, came on board very soon after
anchoring, and informed me that all was quiet on shore, but that heavy fighting
was taking place to the Northwards. The Yemenese forces were using an old
Turkish camion of about 8 inch bore, for which they had plenty of ammunition,
but said that two Italian 6 inch guns and an Italian aeroplane were of no use,
and could not be made to work. He then left to arrange for my visit to the
Governor, which he thought would have to be deferred till the afternoon, the
day being Friday.
At about 11 o’clock a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. came off bearing gifts from the Governor, con
sisting of coffee, limes and fresh vegetables, eggs, over 100 head of fowls, and
a large crate of pigeons, whilst in another dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , two calves and four sheep were
sent on board.
A suitable return in the way of tinned fruits; tea, sugar, etc., was sent on
shore, together with a few special articles from my store, and a couple of blocks-
of ice.
I called on the Governor at 3 o’clock, and was received with great ceremony,
a large guard and band being paraded at the base of the pier. His attitude was
most friendly, and I gather that he had obtained a special permission from
his father, the Imam who is at Sanaa, to come off and return my call. When
thanking him for his presents he asked that they might only be forgotten, in
comparison with what I had sent to him, and said that when I Visited him again,
he would send gifts worthy of the ship.
Accompanied by Hassan Konjuni and a number of his staff he returned my
call at 4-30, and was shown round the ship. He was particularly interested in
the searchlight and appeared to be completely taken aback by the brilliance
of the light. The ease of laying the 4 inch guns also surprised him. He had
not been on board an limglish ship before, or at least not since 1919, though be
had been off to several Italian men-ofwvar. I gathered that he was much im
pressed.
. V h en hnestioned about the attacks on the Yemen dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. ^s, he told me that
Jus lather had armed a certain number with small brass cannons, as a guard
jor those engaged in trade, but later had given orders for the removal of the
guns, as likely to cause offence to us.
I had made no preparations to accord a personal salute to Saif-el-Islam,
but on the most urgent representations of the Consular Agent, I deemed it ew
pedient to fodow the Italian custom and in accordance with Article 78, K. R. and
A. 1., 1 saluted him with 15 guns as he left the ship. I
I neaid later from Konjuni, that immediately on landing he had made a
special report of his visit to the Imam, and that* he had been greatly pleased
n> nis reception It is interesting to note that he has always declined to visd
ii is snip before, giving as his reason, a fear of being kidnapped.

Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎510v] (1025/1062)

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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎510v] (1025/1062)

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