Claims of the Sultan of Lahej to Little Aden [‎254r] (7/18)

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tribe bad for two generations held themselves independent of and denied
allegiance to the Sultan.” Again, in paragraph 10 of the above letter, he
writes “ Captain Haines continued to ignore the independence of the Bir
Ahmed Chief, &c.” The Reverend Mr. Badger also adds his testimony to the
same effect, and prophetically wrote—“The demand thus made upon the
Sultan of Lahej was doubtless very gratifying to his vanity, inasmuch as it re
cognized in him a sovereignty over the descendant of a successful rebel against
a former Abdalee Sultan which he would fain have seen re-established in his own
person. The evil, however, caused by the mistake was great, for much time was
lost in fruitless negotiations with the Sultan of Lahej, who, whilst possessing no
legitimate authority over the Chief of Bir Ahmed and quite powerless to
coerce him, was nevertheless backward to disavow a jurisdiction which had
been assigned to him by the representative of the British, and which he might,
therefore, eventually turn to good account.”
7. This all tends to show that the Sultan of Lahej cannot be said to have
based his claim for some share in the purchase-money of the sovereignty of Little
Aden on altogether imaginary grounds. Had I been made aware of these facts
at the proper time, I should have taken his claim into consideration, as I did that
of the Eoudtheli Sultan at the time of purchase. Sir James Outram further adds—-
iC While, however, I cannot but question the policy of such vacillation, I by no
means presume to object to the leniency shewn to the Sultan of Lahej. On the
contrary, I am of opinion that he merits every consideration that can be shown
to him for having gone so far as he did to meet our demands, and for having
countenanced and supported, so far as he has done, our demands on the other
Chiefs, whereby he has, as I have already said, incurred their bitter hostility
ever since, and suffered annually large pecuniary sacrifices to repel their
attacks or purchase their forbearance; and when it is recollected that not merely
has the Sultan braved the enmity of his brother Chieftains, but actually in
fringed the laws of the prophet and the customs of his people by himself
capitally executing the murderer, and that, too, on behalf of infidels, as they
regard us, it will, I think, be considered by the Right Honorable the Governor
in Council that this Chief is at least entitled to all the support in future that
can conveniently be extended to him.”
8. I entirely concur in these views, and trust Government will now see fit
to concede at least a portion of the pecuniary compensation petitioned for by
the Sultan. Indeed, having now a more perfect acquaintance with the nature
of the obligations we owe to him, I earnestly recommend that instead of the
remuneration of dollars 2,500, I proposed in my letter now under reference,
the Sultan be granted dollars 5,000. I am decidedly of opinion that the larger
sum is a more proportionate return for his expenditure in our service (estimated
by Sir James Outram at a still higher figure), and is more likely to remove
the impression in his mind that he now has, that he has not been fairly treated.
9. It is of importance also that the question of the independence or
otherwise of the Akrabee Chief be speedily determined, and finally laid down
by Government, and thus an end be put to the irritation from jurisdictional
disputes which now frequently arise between him and his neighbour.
10. In conclusion, in order that I may not be misunderstood, I would
submit to Government that in my opinion any fresh recognition of the Sultan
of Lahej as suzerain of the Akrabee tribe is now impossible, especially when it
is taken into consideration that the Akrabee have been so long treated as inde
pendent, that Brigadier Coghlan made a separate bond with them m January
1863, and that the purchase of Little Aden finally made by me was in like
manner carried out direct with the Akrabee Chief and his elders.
Translation of a letter from Captain Haines, Governor of Aden, to Ali Mousin, Sultan,-
dated the \lth April 1851.
After compliments —Yesterday evening I received an order from Bombay,
from the great Council, and from the great Governor, that I should write to you
. how this matter which occurred at Bir Ahmed and at
—f. l. Russell. "Whhut^ appealed to them. It is altogether a ^ry
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