The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-15 00:00:00

LIFE IN ADEN.

ADEN, Mallen 24.
Inmyto
last
owing to the stoppage of all supplies from the
interior by the Sultan of th© Abdali, one of the
I which g e o e a
were account
being s j
e thet
ed embar-
rassmentsherprincipal tribes in our neighbourhood. This chief,
e
who since our capture of Aden (then a part of the
Abdali territory) has been in the receipt of a stipend
of about 1,8001. a year for the express purpose of
protecting the roads leading to Aden, has within
the last year manifested a disposition to annoy us
in every way, and his mal-practices, in ,ults, and
outrages went on increasing until there was abso-
lutely no remedy left but to chastise him. Accord-
ingly, very early on the marning of the 18th a force
tnar,ihed out, under the command of Brigadier
Coghlan, the Political Resident, consisting of two
guns with artillery, 120 men of her Majesty's 57th,
three companies of the 29th Native Infantry, one
company of the aanbay Sappers, 60 seamen from
the Hon. Company's vessels then in the harbour,
and about a dozen S.,inde horsemen. The point of
attack was the small village of Sheikh Othman,
inhabited chiefly by poor fishermen, but possessing
also a.mud fort, garrisoned by 100 of Sultan Ali's
people. This position, being only five miles from
~ur defence', enabled its holders to stop caravans
coming to Aden from all points, and so effectually
hail they -done so for the last fortnight that not a
single camel w th supplies had been permitted to
pass. , Midway between the village and Aden is a
lagoon, proceeding from the harbour, forming
the boundary of a itish territory. This was passed
by our force without any interruption, and shortly
after Brigadier Coghlan despatched a messenger to
inforni Sul an Fadlil, Sultan Ali's brother, who
was redorted to be in command, that the continued
hostility of the Sultan bad determined him to
take Sheikh Othman, that the garrison were at
liberty to depart, and that it was not his intention
to fird a shot unless they began the affray. The
message had hardly been communicated to a body
of men who had taken up a position in our
advance than they opened fire upon our troops,
and scattered themselves right and left under
cover .of low bushes and sandhills. Our two
field-pieces then opened upon them, and skirmish-
ing patties, aided by the horse, were sent out on
both flanks to clear the road, and to prevent the
enemy: from outflanking us. This was done in
adinirr4ble.order, and ihonah the Arabs fought well,
and Stiltan Fadhl made himself most conspicuous
for his gallantry, the enemy soon gave way, and
the main body advanced towards the village with-
out further opposition. Halt-a-dozen shots were
then discharged at the fort, bat the garrison had
made a timely retreat, and when assaulted by our
seamen the place contained only a few of the

wretch
a large
Lahedj
some 0

ed inhabitants. Au hour later, however,
ibody of men was observed coming from
the Sultan's principal residence, and fur
-le it was thought not impossible that they

would pe foolhardy enough to attack us. This sus-
picion ;was not realised; on the contrary, three
chiefs isoon presented themselves with a flag of
'race, and being admitted to an audience with the
Re,_,idept, begged and entreated thst hostilities
night ;cease, pledging themselves on the part of
the Sultan, that the roads should be opened imme-
diately, and that all other differences might be
amicaby settled hereafter. As this object was the
principal aim of the expedition, and as the known
character and influence of the interceding chiefs
seemed to afford a valid guarantee that the pledge
would ; be redeemed, the Political Resident most
prudently acce led to their petition, and, march!"
_ = ...Lax, •.1.6 cessre
force (not one casualty having occurred), amid the
plaudits of the whole population. The news that
the roads were to be opened had preceded the re-
turn of the expedition, and all classes of the natives
and mere especially the Arabs, were anxious to ex-
press their gratitude for so happy a result. The
day following about 150 camels carve in, and since
then the number has gone on increasing, so that
supplies of all kinds are now abundant. The three
chiefs who sought the parley at Sheikh Othman have
also come in to Aden, and negotiations are said to be
going on to place our relations with the Abdali
upon al more satisfactory basis. It is well known
that the tribe generally, and more especially many
of the influential chiefs, do not sympathize with
Sultan Ali in his late conduct towards the British ;
and there is no reason to doubt the truth of the
report that if ho had attempted further resistance
he would have been for,aken by the majority of his
people, who have learned from experience that
thew is nothing to gain, but everything to lose, by
hostility towards us. Few, however, except those
who have been accustomed to the intrigues and
craft of petty Arab chiefs can justly estimate the
difficulty of dealing with them satisfactorily ; and
the positien of the Bri ish Resident at Aden is one
which defies the realization of such a result by the
most consummate arts of diplomacy, joined with
most untiring patience and perfect good temper.
For the preseet at least the late expedition has
succe?ded most admirably, but who will venture to
prognosticate that the success will outlive a month!
And then what is to be done t " Shut the gates,'
say some. Yes ; but we cannot do without the
suppliee " Pit one tribe against another, after
the example of the Turks." The result here would
be most 'disastrous, to say nothing of the degrada-
tion to us of such a proceeding, and its certain
failure in effecting the desired object. "Go out,
then, and thrash them again," cries a third. But
is it becoming our dignity to assume the character
of the Arabs themselves, and to lower ourselves to
the status of freebooters, or perdicari ? The case
is a most embarrassing one. .Having had no little
experience with Arabs myself, I am obliged to own
that it is so, but, whatever may be attempted in
future to remedy existing evils, there is every rea-
son for supporting the policy which dictated the
late expedition against Sheikh Othman.
Her Majesty's steamer Cyclops reached Aden
from England on the 15th inst., and will start im•
mediately for the Red Sea, with a view of testing
its feasibility for a submarine telegraph. As this
is not only the most direct, but also the only avail-
able route for telegraphic communication with
India, it is sincerely to be hoped that the report
will be favourable.

Mr. Ca!ins, the American shipowner, who for CO
many years contested with England the carrying of
mails acroFs the Atlantic, formerly owned whats.lo,,W._,!
nailed the Dramatic line of American staeilinidiltabai,
itlic:
having been named the Shakspeare,
He di-
received from the United States govbserant
Mr. Collins bitttrly complains of the ttrher:
the Eoglish in
Glares that his steam-packets havheil,
subsidy was raised
spec 1. It is only six years since
trip, that is from Nov
to nearly 7,800/ ster:ing a roundc a-
year ; and now
York to Liverpool and backibly '
withdrawn. the secret
the whole sebsidy is irrevocsrge
deficit in the United
teneuei. teTte.e the
hac
Lad year the deficit
of the withdtawal is
States Poet office rgeooo/.
amounted to nearly 7ift,
~
_F Thousand Cures without Medi.
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