"تقرير عن القبائل العربية المجاورة لعدن" [و‎‎١‎١] (٤٠٤/٢٦)

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THE ’ABDAL 1 '. 9
visit paid to the Political Resident by his brother ’Abdalla, and
was further offended by the conclusion of an agreement with
the Fadthlf, in which his intervention was not sought, whereby
the opportunity to intrigue was lost. He commenced to create
dissensions among the ’Uzaibf, a sub-tribe of the ’Abdalf,
which had been uniform in its fidelity to the British. Then
a vexatious impost was introduced on the wells at Shaikh
’Othman on which the town and shipping of Aden were to a
great extent dependent for water. Finally, the punishment
of Sultan ’AH was determined on, and an adequate force
proceeded against Shaikh ’Othman on the 18th March 1858,
when the Arabs were completely defeated with a loss of from
30 to 40. Shaikh ’Othman was restored to the ’Abdalf, and
no further disturbances were occasioned by Sultan ’AH, who
died on the 7th April 1863, and was succeeded by his eldest
son Fadthl.
Young and inexperienced, he had no sooner taken the reins
of power into his own hands than his more ambitious uncles
began to intrigue with a view to his displacement. One party
was headed by ’Abdalla, the eldest surviving son of the old
Sultan Mohsin, who, with his brother’Abdul Karfm, had for
some time past been at feud with those members of his family
who were the offspring of a different mother. The majority
of the tribe, however, were anxious that the Sultanate should
be filled by the next eldest brother Fadthl bin Mohsin, who
was in the prime of life, and was thought to be of an active
and resolute character. An arrangement was, therefore,
ultimately made through the mediation of the Resident at Aden,
and with the cordial consent of the young Sultan, by which
the Government was transferred to this chief. Sultan ’Abdalla
ostensibly gave in his adhesion to this arrangement, but took
no pains to conceal his dislike to his brothers, or to act in
common with them when circumstances rendered it desirable
that he should do so.
Sultan Fadthl bin Mohsin preserved friendly relations with
the British Government. During the expedition against the
Fadthlf in 1865-66 the Sultan accompanied the troops through
out, and, in"acknowledgment of the assistance rendered
by him, he was presented by Government with the sum of
5.000 dollars. In February 1870 he proceeded to Bombay,
as a guest of Government, during the visit of the Duke of
Edinburgh, and travelled through various districts of the Presi
dency.