'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎134] (153/622)

134
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYl,
and the boats of the Compaiiy's ships-of-war in the harbour.
Captain Holt, then a midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. of the ' Mahi,' writes that
he was employed " for ten or fifteen days in the boats of the
4 Mahi,' with those of other ships of the squadron, in defending
the Turkish wall from the Arab attacks. The ladies and
children living at the Point, were sent on board the ships every
night for protection."
Dissensions now broke out in the Seyyid's Army, which
rapidly melted away, and its leader, deserted by his followers
and by the Abdali # and Foudtheli Sultans, retired inland,
and was subsequently slain by a Bedouin in a brawl on the
22nd of August, 1848. For a time theFoutheli Chief attempted
to stop the traffic of Aden, but the usual corrective, a blockade
of his coast by the cruisers of the Indian Navy, compelled him
to abstain. On the 18th of August, 1847, Commander C. D.
Campbell arrived at Aden in the 4 Semiramis,' and assumed
command of the 'Euphrates' as Senior Naval officer ; and, in
the following November, assisted by a party of his men, he
performed the almost impossible task to any but a British
seaman, of taking to the top of Jibel Shumshum, the precipitous
peak towering above Aden, a 12-pounder gun, a labour he
accomplished in nine days.
# " Sultan Mahsin bin Foudthel," says Captain Playfair, " died at Lahej, on
the SOth. of November, 1847, at an advanced age, and was succeeded by his son
Ahmed. The old Chief had ever proved himself inimical to the British. He is
described as low of stature, of a corpulent habit, and grave and saturnine dispo
sition. From the day that he assumed the G-overnment, his time was wasted in
useless disputes with the British or with the neighbouring Arab tribes, and so
great was his avarice, that not content with the treasures which had been amassed
by his predecessors, he continued to extort money from all who came within his
power, until respectable merchants fled from his dominions to avoid his arbitrary
exactions. His successor, Ahmed, was a man of different stamp ; he was sensible
of the advantages which friendly relations with the British would confer upon his
tribe, and used his utmost endeavours to cultivate them ; but he was cut off at
an early age ere any of the measures of reform, which were confidently expected
to be carried out under his rule, had even been commenced. He visited Aden on
the 28th of February, 1848, on the occasion of his succession, and in token of his
friendship for the British, he remained till the 8th of March ; he died of small-pox
on the 18th of January, 1849, and was succeeded by his brother Ali, the present
Chief of the tribe. Ali Mahsin resembles his father in cunning and treachery,
but he is wanting in the warlike spirit which made the latter so formidable an
enemy. His policy, ever since he succeeded to the government of his country,
has been to alienate the surrounding tribes from the British, and on their defec
tion build for himself the reputation of being the steadfast friend and supporter
of the English. In this he has, till very lately, been but too successful; his
intrigues fostered into irreconcilable rancour the disputes which have frequently
arisen between the Arab tribes and the authorities of Aden, and for many years
frustrated all attempts at reconciliation. It is only since the commencement of
the fatal effect of this policy became apparent, but it is satisfactory to
add that, through the sagacity of the British representative, the surrounding
tribes have, without a single exception, laid aside their animosity, and are now on
the most friendly footing with the British. Soon after the accession of Ali Mahsin,
a new treaty was concluded between him and the East India Company; it bears
date 7th of May, 1849, and was ratified by Loml Dalhousie, Grovernor-General of
India, on the 30th of October in the same vear." (Captaiu Play fair's Memo
randum on Aden.)