File 3300/1916 Pt 4 'Aden News-Letters. (1921-23)' [‎58r] (115/644)

Imam is making preparations for an attack for the recovery
of Jetil : alhan and a general invasion of the Tiliama, He
held, a council recently at Bouda, at which a number of chief®
of the powerful tribes of the highlands were present,
i Yafai Akil, recently arrived from Sana, stated
that the &&idi surrender of Ifalhan last March was a great
blow to the Imam, who made no attempt to hide his feeling®
on the subject.
Captain Fasluddin inform® me that Malhaa is well
, fortified by the Idrisi, so its recovery by the Imam will
i presumably be difficult.
Captain Fazluddin has forwarded, to me copies of 3
letters, from the Imam and Ibn el fasir. Governor of T&iz, to
Sayed Abdul Qadir bin .Ahmed al Ahdal of far&m, the most
influental Mansab in the Tihama. The lettera ? the original®,;
of which were shown to Captain Fassluddin. secretly, were
written in April and May last after the death of the Mriil*
their object being to induce the Ian sab to start a movement
in the Tihama in favour of the Imam* They follow the usual
line of abuse of the Christians and their helpers i*e., the
Idrisi.
Gheikh Hason * oh&med Yahija Fashiq, the chief of
the Southern baraniqs and his cousins have gone to Jisan to
take the oath of allegiance to the young Idrisi.
Sheikh Mohamed Ahmed Noman, the Imam’s Amil of
Hujjaria, ha® arrived at Mm on route for * acca via Hodeidah,
on pilgrimage,
I had a few samples of the Sheikh Said coal referred
i
to in my letter of 8th Fay, examined, here* The coal is
reported to be of no value*
ADM