of his friendship to the British (Sd.) Wm. BRUCE, Mokha, 15th January 1821. (True copy.) (Sd.) Wm. BRUCE, Signed and sealed by Umeer Futteh-oolla and all the Members of the Mokha Council to each separate Article, as also by Captain Bruce. Approved. (Sd.) JOHN KISH LUMLEY, ferred for the consideration and decision of His Highness the Shureef Mehdi, and to which the answer returned by the Shureef was as follows: We have reduced the duties three-quarters of a dollar per cent. out of three dollars, and this is upon all goods imported into the port in the name of the English Cirkar and their merchants; there is not (to be) more (required) from them than two and a quarter dollars per cent. alone, both upon goods imported and on goods exported, and this is as a mark of our regard and respect for the said two (the English Government and their mer. chants) and for the preservation of the intercourse and friendship between us both, as was (the case) with those who existed before us (in former times). Nr. 9. "Dated Rubbee-oo-Sanee 1236 of the Hijra, A. D. 1821. Signed by the six Members." Firman de l'Imam de Sana en Arabie. En date du 26 Décembre 1824. Aus: Recueil de traités ... fondé par G. Fr. de Martens. Nouv. Suppl. T. 1. 1761/1829. S. 669. (Traduction de l'Arabe.) Au nom de Dieu clément et miséricordieux. Par nos généreuses et nobles écritures, nous assurons et confirmons aux Français, les privilèges qui leur furent accordés par nos illustres ancêtres, et dont ils jouissent depuis longues années dans notre florissante ville de Moka, la protégée de Dieu, sans que jamais il y survienne aucun changement, ou qu'on puisse leur causer aucune peine. Nous voulons qu'ils continuent à obtenir tous les avantages stipulés dans les pièces qu'ils ont entre les mains, et qu'ils aient de plus droit aux mèmes prérogatives que les Anglais; que nos officiers leur témoignent tous les égards et tout le respect convenables, que ceux-ci prennent une entière connaissance de ces dispositions et qu'ils se soummettent à nos ordres. Dieu nous suffit: nous nous en rapportons à sa volonté. Ecrit dans le mois de la lune de Rebiul-Akher, l'an 1240 de l'Hérige (décembre 1824). Gloire à Dieu. La pièce ci-dessus a été transcrite mot pour mot, par l'agent de France à Moka, d'un écrit à lui adressé de la part de notre maître l'Iman de Sana, et a été par nous collationnée avec l'original. Abderrahman-Ebn-Mohammed. Pour copie conforme à l'original, restant aux archives de Moka. Le 26 Décembre 1824. Signé d' Armandy. (Extract.) Nr. 10. Minute by the Governor of Bombay. Aus: Recueil de traités par G. Fr. d. Martens. ... Tome XIX. 1840. S. 248 ff. 23 September 1837. The establishment of a monthly communication by steam with the Red Sea, and formation of a flotilla of armed steamers, renders it absolutely necessary that we should have a station of our own on the coast of Arabia, as we have in the Persian Gulf; and the insult which has been offered to the British flag by the Sultan of Aden, has led me to inquiries, which leave no doubt on my mind that we should take possession of the port of Aden. I shall make a short summary of the advantages which Aden offers as a depôt for coals, and as a naval and commercial station. Cape Aden is a high rocky promontory, almost an island, the communication with the main being only by a narrow strip of land, which is nearly covered at high-water spring-tides, and which a single work and a few men could maintain against any attack. The village of Aden is situated on the eastern shore, and is surrounded by an amphitheatre of lofty mountains, open to attack from the sea at only one spot, on which a small fort might be required. Opposite to, and commanding the town of Aden is an island, 1,200 yards long by 700 broad, and 400 feet high, upon which barracks could be built for a detachement of troops. The remains of a tank are still visible; and on the northern part, where boats unload, a pier was formerly run out, on which was a battery for five or six guns, now in ruins. The water of Aden is good, and the climate healthy. The harbour of Aden is excellent, and ruins of great extent prove that it was once a mart of great importance. It might again, under good management, be made the port of export for coffee, gums and spices of Arabia, and the channel through which the produce of England and India might be spread through the rich provinces of Yemen and Hadhar-el-mout. The trade with the African coast would also be thrown into the Aden market. As a coal depôt, no place on the coast is so advantageous; it divides the distance between Bombay and Suez, and steamers may run into Back Bay during the night, and load and unload at all seasons in perfect security. Should the Board adopt my views, I propose that this Minute should be forwarded by the "Atalanta" to the Secret Committee, and that we request permission to take possession of Cape Aden. A copy should be forwarded to the Government of India, and our hope expressed that, in consideration of the danger of delay, the Governorgeneral in Council will authorize us to carry our plan into immediate effect. Nr. 11. Traités entre la Grande-Bretagne et le Sultan d'Aden en Arabie du mois de Septembre 1838. (Présenté au Parlament d'Angleterre au mois de Mai 1839.) (Der Wortlaut auf S. 348 desselben Bandes weicht etwas von diesem ab.) 1. The Sultan of Aden agrees to cede in perpetuity, in free sovereignty to the British Government, the land of Aden, as far as the northern side of the Khore Muksa, including the mountains and every part of the land generally included in what is called Cape Aden, together with the harbours of the same, named Gubet Toowye, Bunder Serah, Bunder Duras, and the islands within the same, as well as Seerah Island, and all fortifications, reservoirs, tanks, wells, public buildings, gates and ruins, now existing within the above limits. 2. The British Government agrees to pay the sum of (8700?) dollars to the Sultan of Aden annually in arrears on the 31st December of each year, or so long as they may retain possession of the territory ceded in the first article. 3. The British Government engages that no interference or molestation shall at any time be offered those who profess the Mahomedan religion, and that no injury or damage shall be done to the mosque of Sheik Hydroosse, or to any other mosque or place of Mahomedan worship. The free and unrestricted exercise of religion is guaranteed the Mahomedan priests and all who profess that faith. 4. All persons who may choose to reside within the limits defined in the first article, shall be entitled to British protection, according to the laws which may be established by the British Government. 5. The Sultan of Aden engages to afford every facility in his power for the prosecution of commerce within his dominions, and the country adjacent thereto, and will afford efficient protection to all persons under the British Government and flag, resorting to them for commercial or other peaceful pursuits. 6. The British Government will maintain the most amicable relations with the Sultan, his family, relations, and tribe. The Sultan and his family will be at liberty to reside at Aden, and will be the treated with the courtesy and honour due to their rank and station. 7. Two of the vessels belonging to the Sultan of Aden, not exceeding the burthen of 200 tons each, shall be allowed to trade with Aden free of duties; should they, however, be freighted with the property of his subjects or other persons, the usual duties will be levied thereon. Hamburgische Forschungen. Heft I. (Anhang.) 2 8. The British Government guarantees to the present inhabitants of the territory ceded in the first article, the full and undisturbed enjoyment of all houses and other private property now in their possession. In the event of any part of the same being required for public purposes, the same will be purchased at a fair valuation. 9. The Sultan of Aden will be allowed to retain his present private dwellinghouses. All ordnance now at Aden is the property of the Sultan, and may be removed to Lahedge. Nr. 12. Preliminary Engagement of the Sultan M'Hassan of Lahej, for the Transfer of Aden to the British Government. (Received by Capt. S. B. Haines, Indian Navy, at Aden, on the 23rd January 1838.) Aus: Treaties and Conventions ... subsist. between Great Britain and foreign powers by Lewis Hertslet. Vol. XI. 1864. S. 1–2. The peace, mercy, and blessings of the Almighty be with you. We have received the letter which, through Jaffer, you have written concerning our agreement about Aden, on the 5th of Shuval; but you must know that we have claims upon that place, as also have the tribes and Sultans around it. About the delay of the 2 months, Zilkad and Zilhuj, to which you and I have agreed before the transfer, we earnestly desire that it be observed. You will go to Bombay, and there consult the Government, while we will consult our people, the Princes and Shaikhs, and prepare their minds; then we and you, the Commissioner of the Company, will carry into effect the delivery of the fortress of Aden into your hand, and ratify the expenses of the tribes and Sultans, the regulations and manner of proceeding of everything connected with the town, the war by land and sea; then you, as the Commissioner, shall receive a true and full account and ratified transfer of the fortress of the town. As for the said customs, one-half will be upon you, and the other half upon us, after the 2 months, if it is agreed upon between us. On your arrival we will treat about the monthly or annual stipend. But the Arabs of the present town must remain under our name and our jurisdiction; all other people will be your subjects; and while we are treating after the delay of the 2 said months you must not act aggressively against us, or wrest any part of Aden from us. If you did not observe the delay of 2 months, we will not be responsible to you for anything that may happen. (L. S.) Sultan M'Hassan Foudthel. Witness: Rashed Bin Abdulla. After the 2 months we will speak and treat with Captain Haines and no other person. Sultan M'Hassan of Lahej to Capt. Haines, January 23, 1838. (Extract.) Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahum bemunnihee t'alla, &c. and compliments. What I now write is from Lahej, where all are well. Your letter reached me, and I understand all you wrote in that letter. I have • finished with you on the subject of the town, and told you all. Jaffer came to me from you. I have spoken truth, and gave him a letter, and from his hand received another. I have given my seal that Aden is yours, and you must now give me yours as a security to me. You have both my letter and seal. SULTAN M'HASSAN. Nr. 13. Bond entered into by Sultan M'Hassan, after Aden came into the possession of the British, on signing which he received the first payment on account of the stipend of 541 German crowns per mensem, which the British Government agreed to allow him while he remained faithful to his Engagements. June 18, 1839. Nach Hertslet: Treaties and conventions... (Aus: „Bombay Book of Treaties." S. 284. Aitchison, Bd. XIII, Nr. XVII ist der Wortlaut abweichend.) Sultan M'Hassan Foudthel, his sons Sultan Ahmed M'Assen Foudthel, Ali Abdulla and Foudthel, enter into an Engagement of peace and friendship on the part of their Government, and Captain S. B. Haines of the Indian Navy, Political Agent at Aden, on the part of the Government of the East India Company. Art. I. Sultan M'Hassan and his sons engage themselves to keep their territory and roads in peace and security, so that the weak and poor people may communicate in safety with each other, the Sultan being responsible for every wrong done on the road by any of the Sultan's people. The Sultan will always preserve peace and friendship with the British Government, their interests being united by the British possessing Aden in perpetuity. II. Captain Haines agrees to pay the stipends of the Foudthelee, Yaffar, Houshebee, and Ameer Tribes, as originally paid by Sultan M'Hassan of Lahej. III. Captain Haines agrees to pay to Sultan M'Hassan and his descendants the sum of 6,500 German crowns, from the month of Zilkad, 1254. IV. From Khore Muksa towards Lahej is to be under the jurisdiction of the Sultan, according to the known confines of the Abdallee territory. V. If there happen war against Abdallee, or the territory of Lahej or Aden, the Contracting Parties will assist each other. VI. The subjects of the Sultan entering Aden will be under the jurisdiction of the British Government for the time, and the British subjects resorting to Lahej will be under the jurisdiction of the Sultan for the time being. VII. Everything belonging to the Sultan or his sons entering, or going out of, Aden will be free from custom duties. Dated the 6th of Rubee-oos-sanu (corresponding with the 18th June, 1839, A. D.). S. B. HAINES. (SEAL OF SULTAN M'HASSAN FOUDTHEL.) |