4.60 REPORT—1899. 
Hixploration of Sokotra.—Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. 
J. Scort-KELTIE (Chairman), Professor I. B. BaLFrour, Professor 
W. F. R. WEtpon, and Dr. H. O. Forses (Secretary), appointed 
to explore the Island of Sokotra. (Drawn up by the Secretary.) 
THE present report is preliminary to a fuller illustrated account of the 
results of the expedition to be issued as a special publication of the 
Liverpool Museums, edited by the Secretary, who is Director of that 
Institution. 
The members of the expedition were Dr. H. O. Forbes, Director of 
Museums to the Corporation of Liverpool ; Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, of the 
Ornithological Department of the British Museum ; and the Taxidermist 
of the Liverpool Museums. The expedition was aided by a contribution 
from the Government grant of the Royal Society, by a vote of money and 
of instruments from the Royal Geographical Society, and by a grant of 
351. from the British Association made at its meeting last year at Bristol. 
The Trustees of the British Museum and of the Liverpool Museums also 
contributed generously to the expenses and the outfit of the expedition. 
The party left England on October 28, 1898, and arrived in Aden on 
November 18. The entire voyage out was utilised in making a collection 
of the minute organisms which abound in the sea, by sieving the water 
through very fine silk nets attached to the discharge pipe of pumps, which, 
by the courtesy of the owners and the captain of the Manora, were 
allowed to work uninterruptedly day and night. 
The members of the expedition, who on their arrival in Aden were 
immediately received by the Political Resident, Brigadier-General Creagh, 
V.C., were deeply disappointed to learn from him that, owing to political 
difficulties which had arisen between the Indian Government and the 
Sultan of Sokotra, it would be impossible for them to proceed to their 
destination. The Resident had, before their departure from England, 
cabled to the India Office in London that they should be advised to post- 
pone their visit, but, through some unexplained cause, that information 
was not conveyed to them. Their arrival in Aden was, therefore, 
naturally a surprise to the Political Resident, who, in the fullest sympathy 
with the position in which they found themselves, the same day despatched 
an urgent message to the Indian Government, explaining the situation, 
and urging some speedy arrangement of the difficulty which had arisen, so 
as to enable the expedition, if possible, to proceed to Sokotra. 
It is impossible to express fully the grateful thanks of the members 
of the expedition to General Creagh for his personal hospitality and for 
his great kindness in doing everything possible to make the days of the 
enforced stay of the expedition in Aden of profit to it. 'The Government 
bungalow. at Sheik Othman, some twelve miles north of Aden, was 
generously lent to the expedition by him, and later, through his recom- 
mendation, an invitation was received from the Sultan of Lahej, in South 
Arabia, for the expedition to visit his dominions. His Highness met the 
members of the party at his boundary, conveyed them to the capital, 
hospitably entertained them, and assisted them in every possible way 
during their stay. 
The Committee have to express their obligations to the military autho- 
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