text:  The Abdalli chiefs on the other hand made an effort to induce the Sultan of the Futhalis (with whom they held a conference during the first days of 1839 at the tomb of Sheikh Othman near Aden on the occasion of the payment of the annual tribute above referred to ) to make common cause with them against the intruders who were endeavouring to establish themselves in the country; but the negotiation wholly failed and the two parties separated on not very amicable terms