'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎130] (149/622)

130
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
NaY3% completely staggered them, while the fire from the line
of works completed their discomfiture, and they retreated with
a loss of two hundred men. The principal tribes concerned in
this attack were the Abdali and Foudtheli, and immediately
after their repulse they retired to Bir Ahmed, not many miles
distant from the Barrier Gate, and in a position whence they
could effectually intercept all communication between Aden and
the interior. Here they built a fort, which they named Nowbat
Sheikh Mehdi, and commenced a series of raids, which caused
the utmost annoyance to merchants and others bringing supplies
into Aden.
The state of affairs in Europe at this period, owing to the
aggressive policy of France, rendered it advisable that certain
points on the African coast should be obtained, with a view to
their occupation, should occasion require it. To this end Captain
< Moresby and Lieutenant Barker, of the Indian Navy, were des
patched to open friendly relations with the chiefs of Zeyla and
Tajura, and to obtain certain islands by purchase. A com
mercial treaty, bearing date August 19, 1840, was concluded
between Sultan Mahommed bin Mahommed and Captain
Moresby, on behalf of the British Government, whereby the
Mussah islands,* situated in the Bay of Tajura, were ceded to
the British Crown ; and they were formally taken possession of
in the name of Her Majesty, on the 31st of the same month.
On the 29th of July the Foudtheli Sultan, Ahmed bin
Abdulla, accompanied by three of his brothers and some armed
men, arrived at the Barrier Gate, and the interpreter, Ahmed
bin Aidan, having gone out to confer with them, was murdered
by the Foudtheli chief, who, with his followers, succeeded in
effecting his escape. On the 3rd of September Sultan Mahsin,
of Lahej, seized a kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. of camels entering Aden with supplies,
and, having sold them, appropriated the proceeds to his own
use. In the same month a party of marauders crept close to
the line of works, under cover of night, and fired at the sentries,
fortunately without doing any execution, while the return fire
* These islands are a barren coral group about thirty feet above the level of
the sea, consisting of three large and five small rocky islets. They afford no
water, but an abundant supply is obtainable on the mainland, about eight miles
to the west of them, where there is a running stream and a good anchorage,
whence the islands could be supplied with water, by means of boats, at all
seasons of the year. In the same month two other islands were purchased and
taken possession of by the British; one called the Bab, in the straits connecting
the Khoobet Kharab with the Bay of Tajura, and the other named Eibat near the
town of Zeyla. The Goyernments of Zeyla and Tajura were in the hands of their
hereditary chiefs, who owned no allegiance to any foreign power, and conse
quently were perfectly competent to cede any part of their territories. While
these events occurred the whole province of Yemen, to which this portion of
the coast of Africa had formerly been a dependency, was in a state of anarchy ;
it had been evacuated by the Egyptians, and the Imaum of Sanaa had lost the
Tehama, or sea-coast, which was usurped by the Beni Aseer and the Shereefs of
Aboo-Areesh.