'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎126] (145/622)

126
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
escape. On the following day, the Abdali Sultan visited Aden,
to express his regret at what had occurred, and to solicit the
friendship of the British. On the 18th of June, he executed a
bond * pledging himself to maintain a friendly line of policy,
and received the first payment of a stipend of 541 dollars per
mensem (equivalent to the originally stipulated purchase-
money of the place), besides various small sums paid to sub
ordinate chiefs, formerly chargeable on the revenues of Aden,
which Government was pleased to confer upon him as long as
he should remain faithful to its interests. From this time con
fidence was restored, and the natives of the surrounding districts
began to flock rapidly into Aden, so that in the month of Sep
tember, 1839, the population had increased to 2,885, exclusive
of the military. The Abdali chief, like a treacherous Bedouin,
soon forgot his obligations, and, in conjunction with the Sultan
of the Foudtheli tribe, attempted to retake Aden on the 11th
of November, but was defeated with heavy loss.
The following account of this affair, appeared in the " Bombay
Courier Extraordinary," of the 23rd of December, 1839:—
" It appears that information had been received, some time
previously, by Commander Haines, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at
Aden, of an intended attack, who made every arrangement
accordingly, in conjunction with the military authority of the
place, notwithstanding the matter was looked upon by many as
an idle threat on the part of the Arabs. The neck of land, or
rather sand, w 7 hich connects the peninsula of Aden with the
main land, is intersected by a wall about one thousand four
hundred yards in length, both extremities of which touch the
sea at high water; at either end of this wall, there is a semi
circular projecting field-work, mounting two guns, while three
other guns are placed along the wall in as many redoubts, at
regular intervals of 300 yards. Early in the morning of the
11th of November, a report was made that some eight or ter)
men w^ere seen prowling about near the advanced sentries, hut
who, on being challenged, dispersed. Soon after, more men
were seen creeping round the left field-work, it being nearly
low-water. At about four a.m., the sentry fired, and the Arabs,
finding themselves discovered, raised a tremendous shout, and
rushed on in three columns, of about two thousand men each,
one column on each field-work, and one on the centre, but were
quickly checked by a well-directed fire of grape and musketry
from the works, while Lieutenant Hamilton, I. N., in the launch
of the Hon. Company's brig of war 6 Euphrates/ poured repeated
volleys of grape from the boat's 12-pounder, across their
columns, with admirable judgment and precision. The centre
column alone reached the wall, within which about two hundred
and fifty of them found their way, when the remainder were
# Bombay Book of Treaties, p. 284.