‘Administration Report of Aden for the year ending 31 March 1934’ [‎3v] (11/106)

2
and in the valleys between them where the ground is normally level. Crater
the main and original town, is situated at a distance of five miles from the
modern harbour and lies in the extinct volcano on the east of the peninsula.
The Isthmus is a flat sandy plain on which has been laid out the aerodrome
and lines of the Royal Air Force, the Naval Wireless Station, the Aden Pro
tectorate Levy lines and the Golf Course. Itis only 1,320 yards wide at its
narrowest point near the peninsula. Cultivation occurs at Sheikh Cthman
in the form of a large vegetable and fruit garden belonging to the Aden Settle
ment. There are also privately owned date palms there.
Hiswa has several groves of palms, but with these exceptions there is no
regular cultivation in the Settlement.
The Island of Perim.
Perim Island, situated in the Straits of Bab-el-Mandab, is bare, rocky,
and rather flat in appearance ; its highest point, about a mile northward of its
southern extremity, is 214 feet (65 m ) high. The surface of the island is
groved with dry water courses and covered with coarse grass and stunted
shrubs, the subsoil being sand and conglomerate coral. Perim harbour,
and False Bay, a small shoal light, lie on the southern side of the island. Permi
is of some importance as a coaling station, and also from its being an Eastern
Telegraph Company’s station and Lloyd’s Signal Station. The Coal Com
pany own a salvage vessel the “ Preserver ” which is based on the island.
Historical Note.
Aden has been a place of importance throughout historical times owing
to its possession of the only good harbour situated on the main ocean trade
; route between Egypt and India and to the fact that it is easily defensible.
Prior to the discovery of the Cape route in the fifteenth century the trade
followed much the same course as the main trade route between the East
and the West does to-day, i.e., across the Indian Ocean to Aden, thence up
the Red Sea and across Egypt to the Mediterranean. From the earliest times
the great Empires of the World realised the importance of Aden during this
period, and during the time of the Romans at least two endeavours were made
by them to capture the Red Sea trade and they sent an unsuccessful expedi
tion against Aden. The discovery of the Cape route at the end of the six
teenth century diverted the major portibirof the trade from the old Red Sea
route and in consequence the port of Aden declined. Aden was attacked by
the Portuguese in 1513 and 1516, captured by the Turks in 1538 and remained
in their hands about 100 years when the Yemen Arabs rebelled and drove
the Turks out, Aden thus coming under the Imams of San’a, who have never
renounced their claim to it. In 1728 the Sultan of Lahej, the Ruler of the
territory adjacent to Aden, revolted and established his independence, and
included Aden in his Sultanate. The decline of Aden continued until its
capture by the British in 1839, when its village consisted of 500 inhabitants.
Financial negotiations with the Sultan of Lahej having failed, the plundering
of an Indian ship on the coast near Adenresulted in its capture by a successful
expedition sent from Bombay by the East India Company under Major
Bailey and Captain Haines of the Indian Navy. The latter became the first
Resident. The desire to establish coaling stations on trade routes necessitated
by the replacement of sailing ships by steamers was one of the reasons which
led to Aden’s occupation by the British. The revival df the Red Sea route