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'Monograph on the Aden Hinterland as touching the States of Dthala, Yafa', Alawi, etc., by Major H F Jacob, late Political Agent, Dthala.' [18v] (41/48)
The record is made up of 1 volume (22 folios). It was created in 1908. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
It is probable that altogether unvisited by us th ( ese people may quietly
continue oblivious of our existence, and if watched by Mausatta, which has an
interest there, we shall be kept fairly conversant with their doings. I bardly
think the Turks will pay stipends to those who are acknowledged to be under
onr influence. Should, however, the Imam replace the Turk in the Yemen,
and this is not altogether an extravagant idea, these places would be a source
of worry and anxiety, for we have done nothing to know the people or to
encourage intercourse with their Sheikhs. In fact these countries do not know
under whose authority they are so arbitrarily placed, and inwardly chafe at the
thought of dependence on any Power. All dread Turkish usurpation, for the
Turk annexes and not supervises merely. Our aim in defining our own sphere
of infhfence would appear to be directed towards limiting Turkish influence
rather than impressing our image on those that have come within the circle of
our protection.
7G. The Arabs on the Turkish side hold in great respect the name of
Sultan Abdul Hamid of Stamboul, hut have an equally fixed contempt for the
Turkish administration of Yemen which is known popularly as the dumping
ground for Turkish undesirables. It is for many Turkish officials a house of
exile. A recent Kaim Makam of Kataba had been for ten years ostracised from
Constantinople for advanced views on education, and has often, but in vain,
tried to return. He finally left Kataba hurriedly and passed to Aden from
where be visited Cairo. Eventually, he was reinstalled in a Kaim Makamship
in Syria ! He belongs to the Young Turkish Tarty, but conceals his aspirations.
There are many officials like unto him. They improve the occasion by amas
sing fortunes. It is the acts of such men that have been chiefly instrumental in
injuring Turkey’s cause in the Yemen and opening the door to the spread of
revolutionarv ideas, thus furthering the cause of the Imam of Sana’a and his
Zeidi hands.
The Turks farm the levenue collections annually to the highest bidder who
is instant, in season and out of season, in feathering his nest. Disaffection is
the natural outcome of their regime. Many a Sheikh both in the Turkish
jurisdiction and on neutral soil has expressed his desire to cultivate our acquain
tance. Sabah is one, Juban as above said, is another. Again there is the
Nakib Muhammad bin Abdllah Mohsin Shaif of Du Husein who wants our
friendship. He hails from Saba near Jof. So, too, the Sheikh of Ans who
wrote me an invitation to visit him with troops. “ Knowledge of us ” he said
“ can only be achieved by the overflow of your Government into our parts”.
The Marib Sheikh has an inclination towards us. This place with Saba is
famous in Arab chronicles as the old-time Head-quarters of the Queen of
Sheba. A promiuent Saiyid in Turkish territory who came down to Luhej was
Ahmed TJbadi. I saw him in Haushabi territory where he journeyed to inter
view me. He was most bitter against the Turks, and asked for our protection.
I told him he could live within our sphere if he chose, but that regarding his
lands on the Turkish side, we could do nothing to assist him towards their
recovery, since it was a purely personal concern between him and them.
Without doubt before the evacuation of Dthala, our prestige was in the
ascendant across the border. The withdrawal of our political oversight has
everywhere been ascribed to superior Turkish diplomacy.
77. If the Imam and Turk are reconciled, it is not unlikely that the
former will be allowed to administer the Yemen in the name of Sultan
Abdul Hamid who would still remain the overlord and derive tributory
rights. In that case the Imam would replace the Turk all along our
frontier and we should be in direct communication with him. Wb have
no reason now to expect that the Imam would be specially drawn ‘ to us. We
have not replied to his first letter asking our intervention. I had guaranteed
to have a reply placed in his hands without the Turks becoming aware of it.
At one time we considered him a rebel against Turkish authority. I think
that his status and importance prospectively have perhaps tempered our earlier
view. Again, at a later period he asked to come within the circle of our
friendship. An impossible request for us to grant no doubt, but his letter
About this item
- Content
Monograph on the Hinterland of Aden as touching the states of Dthala, Yafa', Haushabi and Alwai; The Turkish Frontier; The transborder people: together with a few remarks on hinterland policy , written by Captain Harold Fenton Jacob, formerly Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Dthala, 6 December 1907.
The monograph focuses primarily on the Amir of Dthala [Aḑ Ḑāli‘] (Amir Shaif) and his relations with his own tribes and subjects, as well as other neighbouring tribes and the British Government. Also discussed are relations between the Halmin, Al Afud [Radfān], Mifari, Mihrabi [Mihrābī], Humedi [Ḩumaydī] and Jabal Jihaf [Jabal Jiḩāf] tribes.
The monograph also discusses the following topics:
- the inter-tribal relations of the Amir of Dthala and how they affect him;
- British relations with the Amir through the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Dthala. Included within this is discussion of the invaluable work of the Dispensary at Dthala and of the work undertaken by the dispensary's staff in visiting villages to provide medical assistance;
- The tribal structure of the region focusing on the role of the 'Saiyid' priestly class; the position of women within the society and the potential role that education of future tribal chief's could play;
- the system of payment of stipendiaries to local chiefs and rulers to gain access to an area of the surrounding country; and the value, or not, of such a process;
- The Turkish border and its influence on Dthala politics and the Amir. Included within this is discussion regarding the border tribes, their lack of interest or meaning in a demarcation of the border, and their allegiances across both sides of the border;
- Haushabi affairs and British relations with the tribe;
- relations with the Alawi tribe, including an overview of Alawi-Kotaibi [Quṭaybī] relations;
- the arms trade in the area;
- affairs in the vicinity of Yafa' [Yafa'a], including the areas referred to by the British as Upper Yafa', Lower Yafa', and Yafa'-as-Sufāl.
The monograph was printed at the Government Central Press, Bombay, 1908 on the recommendation of Major-General Ernest DeBrath, 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.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (22 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 22; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Monograph on the Aden Hinterland as touching the States of Dthala, Yafa', Alawi, etc., by Major H F Jacob, late Political Agent, Dthala.' [18v] (41/48), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/283, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025612182.0x00002a> [accessed 16 September 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/283
- Title
- 'Monograph on the Aden Hinterland as touching the States of Dthala, Yafa', Alawi, etc., by Major H F Jacob, late Political Agent, Dthala.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:19r, 20v:21v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence