مجموعة ٦ / ٨ (١) "سلسلة مطبوعة: ١٩٢٩ إلى ١٩٣٨". [و‎‎٣‎٥‎٥] (١٠٦٢/٧١٤)

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No. dhows were sighted during the passage from Aden.
9. On leaving Perim, I commenced a Patrol Northwards, but owing to the
high winds no dhows were underweigh, and after closing the coast of Eritrea,
to make sure that there were no dhows sailing to the Northward under the land,
I steered South out of the Straits, and carried out a patrol of the South Arabian
coast, as far as Pas al Ara, where I anchored for the night.
At daylight next day, I patrolled Southwards past the Brothers Xslands,
towards the Gulf of Tadjura, outside territorial waters, but once more, no dhows
were sighted.
* * # * * * # *
10. Aden .—The Political Resident has gone up country, to visit the Dala
country, and his duties are being carried out by the First Political Assistant,
Colonel Reilly.
■if: ** هذه التواريخ تقريبية ** هذه التواريخ تقريبية *#*
The ship sailed on the combined patrol arranged by the S. 0., R. S. on the
morning of the 26th, in accordance with his instructions.
11. Combined Patrol .—The area allotted to “ Dahlia ” was the South
Arabian coast, from about 30 miles East of Aden to the vicinity of Perim, an
area of about 30 miles being covered daily.
About 10-30, on the 26th, I sighted a dhow on my port bow, coming in my
direction, from the Eastward, and course was altered to intercept her. It soon
became apparent that the dhow was standing away, and doing her best to avoid
me, so I altered course to cut her off. As I neared the dhow, she was seen to
be standing well inshore, so I proceeded well to leeward of her, and as the water
had shoaled, I anchored and sent away armed boarding boat under sail, to catch
her, firing a round of blank at the same time.
The dhow was by now very near the coa.st, on which heavy surf was break
ing, and twice she was seen to run right inside the surf, when men on shore ap
peared to wade into the water where she had been.
My whaler was just about able to keep pace with the dhow, and was slightly
to leeward and to sea-ward, so that she waspn a good! position to shut her off.
It was evident that the men in the dhow realised this, for they suddenly ran the
dhow ashore, and the crew of seven escaped inland, and hid in the bushes.
In the meantime, I had sent away the other whaler to interrogate the men
on shore, and I then got out the motor boat to go to the assistance of the first
whaler who was about five miles to leeward, by the stranded dhow. At the same
time, I reported the circumstances to the Resident Aden, a,s I considered the
actions of the dhow were so remarkable that she was to be suspected of some
illicit proceeding, such as smuggling drugs.
The whaler near the dhow was unable to get alongside her, owing to. the
shallow water, and very heavy surf, but it could be seen that she contained
fishing tackle only, and the officer in charge decided to withdraw. .As soon as
he began to haul off, the dhow’s crew came down to their boat, seeing this the
whaler returned, whereupon the natives again ran away inland.
As there was nothing more to be done, the motor boat and whaler returned
to the ship, and the natives promptly manned the dhow, and sailed off in the
direction of Crater.
The second whaler also returned, and reported that the men on shore dis
claimed all connected with the dhow.
As the shallow water prevented any attempt at following her, I reported
her escape to the Resident, Aden, and requested that her arrival at Crater should
be awaited, and the crew interrogated.
Only one other dhow was seen that day, and I anchored for the night to the
East of Aden.
Next day no dhows whatever were sighted, and I put into Aden p.m., to
furnish a written report on the above incident to the Resident.
In renlv he informed me that the dhow’s crew had been arrested, and in a
statement P to the police they attributed 1 their action to fear, and stated that t ey
had fled for their lives.