Page 193 - Arabian Studies (II)

The First Days of British Aden 185
8 Rain in the morning, fine afterwards. Went onboard the
Coo/e to breakfast at 8. Played at chess with Mr H. till nearly
2, dined. Sailed about the bay in company with the Coote's
launch and pinnace. In the evening played whist till 8.
In lieu of the town being delivered up today as promised a
messenger was sent to say that the inhabitants would not
place themselves at the mercy of the British, notwithstanding
the Xeriffe yesterday swore on the Koran that Aden should
be given into their hands, an instance of the regard the Arabs
pay to oaths.
As a clue however to the wavering policy of the Sultan I
was told today as a secret that the Sultan’s seal had been
fraudulently obtained by some Banyans and Captain H’s
interpreter, unknown to him, and affixed to an agreement of
which the Sultan knew nothing. This Captain H. it appears
only found out today and was in consequence greatly
enraged but he has gone too far to recede, other troops
having sailed from Bombay. Accordingly the flag-of-truce was
hauled down and the Mahy and Chokee are going tomorrow
to Front Bay to send some more shells into the town.
9 Fine. Onboard all day.
The Berenice, steamer, 1 0 came in from Suez at 7 P.M.
10 Fine. Onboard till 5 when I went onboard the Berenice with
some letters for Bombay and then to the Coote whose
officers but two had left her.
The Berenice sailed at 7 P.M.. She had onboard 24
passengers one of whom Sir L. Campbell, the bearer of
important despatches relating to the recall of the troops from
Persia, the governor of Goa, the ambassador sent by the
Imam to the queen etc.1 1 She towed round to Front Bay the
Mahy, the Chokee and 4 gunboats to attack the town. All the
Coote'1 s officers with the exception of the second lieutenant
and clerk went with them.
11 Fine. About Vi past 6 A.M. the sound of cannon reached our
ears from Front Bay, the schooner and gunboats appeared to
be actively employed.
At 11 went onboard the Coote where Captain Denton
invited me to dine and I remained there until 9.
The schooner and gunboats came in at sunset. They had
knocked down a few walls and burnt a house with a carcase.
The Arabs to the number of about 500 fired many rounds
and served their guns well but only one Englishman was
wounded in the shin. They all appeared highly exhilarated
with their day’s amusement.
The Atalanta steamer 1 2 came in at 10 in 9 days from
Bombay; two transports, two frigates and a storeship sailed 4
days before her for this [sic].
12 Fine. Writing to England till 3. At 5 Majors Western and