The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-25 00:00:00

LONDON,

case of the seaman a sert of demonstration was made
by gunboats near where the murder was committel,
hut these returned without of anything. The
Sultan of Lahedj was called upon to coerce his
neighbour of Bir ildmid, who it is supposed was
privy to the murder, and to capture the murderers.
The former professed his readiness to obey, and pre-
tended to storm the fort of Bir Hamid. Whatever
may have been reported respecting these proceedings,
there can be no doubt that there was, as there still is,
collusion betwixt these two chiefs. The affair ended
in smoke, and the murderer is at large under the fos-
tering Nitig of the chief of the Foudhli, another tribe
inhebiritig this district.
With respect to the attack upon Captain Milne's
party, it is reported that Government has given the
Sultan of Lahedj two or three months to produce the
murderer, and threatens ulterior proceedings in case
of refusal. In the meantime we bear that the monthly
salary allowed to the Sultan of Lahedj, the chief of
the Foodhli, and some other island chiefs, has been
stopped. Report states that the Sultan of Lahedj has
sent hostages for the murderer into Aden, but he
knows full well that in our hands these hostages are
safe. There can be no doubt, indeed, but that the
chief is playing a double part, willingly or unwil-
lingly, and that he never entertained a serious idea 01
bringing the murderer to justice, even were he able
to do so, which he is not. In f,ct, intelligence was
brought to Aden that the culprit was seen in the
vicinity of his native village tilling his lands after the
last rain, which fell about two months ago.
It is devoutly to be hoped that now at length some
measures will be taken to prevent such outrages in
future, for up to this time the most unheard-of lenity
has been adopted towards these barbarians. The only
semblance of chastisement which has hitherto been
exhibited towards them was the gibbeting of the body
of the assassin who attempted Lieut. Delisser's life
The most salutary eff-ct resulted from that exhi-
bition • the Arabs from the interior were humbled
and behaved with far greater civility when they
came into Aden. But it appears that even this sen-
tence was condemned by the Government, for an
order was immediately sent hither directing the body
to be removed. Such are the friendly relations be-
twixt the Arabs here who become acquainted with
the orders of Government and the Arabs of the in-
terior, that the latter were doubtless soon apprised of
this seeming disapproval of what had been done by
the local authorities, and the result was to make them
more impudent than they had ever been.
But if any steps are taken to remedy the existing
evils it is to be hoped that our relations with th«
Arabs in this neighbourhood will be placed on an en
tirely new footing. Unless this is effected no lastini,
benefit can be anticipated. An egregious error was
committed in the first instance by our exaltation 0-
the so•called Sultan of Lahedj. He was recognise(
by us as the head of the surrounding tribes, whereas.
in fact, he possesses no authority whatever over them
and has very litile power over his own tribe. Th,
chief of Bir Hamid, it is true, pays him a triflii4
y early tribute, but in every other respect he is inde.
pendent. Tne Foodhlis, instead of being subject r«
the Sultan of Lahedj, receives tribute from him,
and had the latter beeu able to coerce them surd,
he would long ere this have reclaimed the refuge,
murderers who are living under the protectio
of the Foodhlis, or have punished them for their rebel.
Icon. Moreover, if this individual is so well dispose.
()wards us, and posseses so touch influence, why is i
teat ire has not seiz:et and punished the a‘sassins

the two sailors of the Suns of Commerce, since it he
been discovered that the murderers bt-loog to hi
tribe, the Abdali, end not to the Foodhh ? There
some mystery iu all this, which must be solv-d it qE

►re to be secure and to maintain our proper dignit,
in this part ut Arabia.
P.S. Tne wreck of the Sons of Ciimmerce has bee,

•old by public auction at Alen. Toe principal pur-
chaser is the chiet Arab resident or this town, a ma,
sometimes called upon to decide suits which require a
knowledge of Mehotnedan Jaw. The wreck wa
knocked down for 2,450 r., and the day after tw.
boats (one belonging to the Government acting• in
terpreter) went off to the wreck. The Arabs of th•
district, well knoaing who had been the purchaser,.
received their townsmen of Aden with a hearty wel
come. Sheep were slaughtered for their use, and tht
united company had a jolly time of it. Moreover
the natives of the place adjacent to the wreck gave
their companions every assistance in dismantling the
vessel, and the two boats returned next day to Aden
laden with the spoil. Reflect here how different was
the reception given by these villains to the boat's crew
of the Elphinstone when she visited the wreck !
Surely if the principal Arabs in Aden, who are en-
joying our protection, can exert so much influence
over their compatriots in the neighbourhood, could
their services not have been enlisted to rescue from
desecration the corpses of our two unfortunate coun-
trymen?