During my residence in Aden, which lasted three
weeks, or until the second mail after my arrival took
its departure for Suez, my wounds healed up in such,
a marvellously rapid manner, I was able to walk at
large before I left there. They literally closed as
wounds do in an India-rubber ball after prickings
with a penknife. It would be difficult to account for
the rapidity with which my wounds closed, knowing,
as everybody who has lived in Aden must do, that that
is the worst place in the world for effecting cures, had I
not, in addition to a strong constitution which I for-
“ 3d, That all vessels sailing under the British flag shall have free
permission to trade at the port of Berbera, or at any other place in the
territories of the Habr Owel; and that all British subjects shall enjoy
perfect safety in every part of the said territories, and shall be permitted
to trade or travel there under the protection of the elders of the tribe.
In like manner sTia.ll the members of the Habr Owel tribe enjoy similar
privileges at Aden, or in any other part of the British possessions.
“ 4th, The traffic in slaves through the Habr Owel territories, including
the port of Berbera, shall cease for ever ; and any slave or slaves
who, contrary to this engagement, shall he introduced into the said
territories, shall he delivered up to the British ; and the commander of
any vessel of Her Majesty’s or the Honourable East India Company’s
navy shall have the power of demanding the surrender of such slave or
slaves, and of supporting the demand by force of arms, if necessary.
“ 5th, The Political Resident at Aden shall have the power to send an
agent to reside at Berbera during the season of the fair, should he deem
such a course necessary, to see that the provisions of this agreement are
observed ; and such agent will be treated with the respect and consideration
due to the British Government.
“ 6th, That on a solemn promise being given by the elders of the
Habr Owel, faithfully to abide by the articles of this agreement, and to
cause the rest of the tribe to do so likewise, and to deliver up to the
Political Resident at Aden any party who may violate it, the blockade
of the Habr' Owel coast shall be raised, and perpetual peace and friendship
«ball exist between the British and the Habr Owel.
“ Done at Berbera this seventh day of November, one thousand eight
viously in a very abstemious manner, principally, as
appears in the body of the journal, on dates, rice, and
sour curds.
I now left Aden on “ sick certificate,” and arrived
in England in the early part of June 1855. The
Crimean war was then at its height, and the military
authorities were beating up for recruits in every corner
of the land. This summons for war was irresistible.
I was suffering a little from blindness, brought on.
probably by my late losses and impoverishment of
blood. I Still I lost no time in volunteering my serhundred
and fifty-six of the Christian era (corresponding with the eighth
day of Rabea-el-Owel, one thousand two hundred and seventy-two of the
Hejira).
(Signed) M a h o m e d A r r a ' l e h ,
„ A h m e d A l i B o o k e r i , t Ayal Yoonus.
n N o o r F a ' r r a h , )
» A h m e d G h a 'm d , \
„ M a h o m m e d WaTs, > Ayal Ahmed.
i i M u g g a n M a h o m m e d , )
i i R o o b l i e H a s s a n , \
” A t e y a h H i l d e r , ( MakdhiL
i i E a r r a h B e n i ’n , )
” A w a d t h S h e r m a r k i e , Ayal Hamood.
“ Signed in my presence at Berbera, on the 7th November 1856.
(Signed) R L. P l a y f a i r , Assistant Political Resident, Aden.
' M‘ C o q h l a n , Political Resident.
Aden, 9th November 1856.
Honourable the Governor-General of India in
Council, at Port William, this 23d day of January 1857.
(Signed) C a n n i n g .
And Five Members of Council of India.”
* I was first blinded by ophthalmia when a child, which had ever
Since rendered reading a very painful task ; and again I suffered from
snow-blindness whilst crossing over the Himalayas into Tibet.