British 23 Somaliland] THE MULLAH ; SOKOTRA a In 1912 a small corps of camel constabulary was raised , which in August 1913 suffered a severe reverse at the hands of the dervishes, the commander being killed . The military force of the Protectorate was then strength ened , and in November 1914 and February 1915 the dervishes were driven out of strongholds which they had occupied and heavily defeated. Writing on September 8, 1915, the Commissioner reported : With the military occupation of the interior a complete transformation has been brought about in the internal con dition of the country, and peace amongst the various, friendly tribes within the protected area has been well established . Fresh recrudescence of trouble in 1919 led to a decisive defeat of the Mullah early in 1920.

SOKOTRA The island of Sokotra seems to have been better known in classical and mediaeval times, or at least to have had more history, than is the case to-day. It was in past times a centre of piracy ; its connexion has always been with Arabia ; and it is now in effect a dependency of Aden . The suzerain or owner of the island, the Sultan of Kishn or Keshin in Arabia, was in 1876 bound over by the Indian Government not to enter into relations with regard to the island with any foreign Power without the consent of Great Britain ; and on April 23, 1886, he signed a treaty , formally placing the island under British protection.

i Colonial Reports ( Annual), No. 867, October 1915 , p. 16.