Political No. 15 of 1873, Forwarding a Copy of Papers Regarding an Engagement Concluded with the Foodhlee Chief for Removing Transit Dues from the Road Passing through his Territory to Aden [‎139r] (21/34)

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2. The Yaffaee Sultan agreed to waive his claim to $ 100 per annum
against Haidara bin Ahmed, the Foodhlee Sultan, as royalty for the use of water
from the Biver Nazaa, and to accept from the present year an annual sum of
$25. He also consented to a truce of two years with regard to the murder of
Sultan Zain by the Maisar tribe.
3. On the other hand, the Foodhlee Sultan bound himself to abolish all tran
sit duties on kalilas passing through his territory to and from Aden for a con
sideration of $80 per mensem, by which the subjects of the Yaffaee will be
greatly benefitted, and a Treaty was concluded between the Government and the
Foodhlee Sultan regarding these duties, which was recently ratified by the Govern
ment of India. The Foodhlee further agreed to the truce above alluded to.
4. The objection raised by Sultan Ali bin Ahmed, the Yaffaee, is that his
eldest son had no authority to enter into the Convention under notice, but this
is entirely false, as his own letter is forthcoming, in which his son Sultan Ali bin
Ahmed, was accredited by him to Major-General Tremenheere in the following
terms:—“ I have given him instructions of all that I require and to be required
of me. If he sees that all is proper and nothing will disgrace him, he will,
with the consultation of his relations, give his consent. If there is anything
dishonorable, I have directed him not to give his consent without first asking
me, as I am still a Sultan. If he does anything contrary to my wish, I will be
angry on him.”
5. I have endeavoured by every means and argument to show the Yaffaee
Sultan that he is bound by the promise of his son, which contains nothing dis
honorable, but merely consents to a reversion to a condition of things that
existed before the Foodhlees were punished by British troops in 1865-66, and I
have told him that a breach of faith on his part must draw down upon him the
displeasure of Government.
6. The communication I have recently received from the Yaffaee indi
cates that at present he has no intention of withdrawing from the position he
has assumed; and I have accordingly, in anticipation of the sanction of Gov-
vernment, withheld the payment of his annual stipend, which I shall continue
to do until the Sultan consents to act up to his agreement. I may mention
that the eldest son of the Yaffaee visited Aden a short time since to discuss the
subject now under report, and on quitting the place, with the usual presents,
he left the impression on my mind that the Convention to which he had con
sented would be duly carried out by his father.
7. The Foodhlee Sultan has acted up to the terms of the Treaty he has con
cluded with Government most loyally. He has also destroyed a fortified house
at Jowalla, the existence of which, as commanding the approaches to Aden, had
formed a bone of contention between himself and the Yaffaee.
8. It may now be expected that hostilities will commence between the
Foodhlee and the Yaffaee Sultans on account of the water supply, which the latter
is reported to have caused to be turned off the Biver JNfazaa to his own lands, and
I have already informed the Foodhlee Sultan that, beyond the exercise of his
friendly offices for the preservation of peace, the Besident cannot interfere
actively in inter-tribal disputes and differences.
9. As the Foodhlee are the most powerful and warlike tribe in this locality,
I entertain little doubt the Sultan will, by force of arms, gain all he desires
with regard to his right of water from the river which runs through the Yaffaee
territory into his country.
N.I >.—A copy of this letter will be forwarded for the information of His
Grace the Secretary of State for India in Council.