Page 284 - Neglected Arabia 1902-1905

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\\*c IimjkmI to ^ain the i^ood will ot the Sheikh l)y our medical
work. an<l rent a house, it not a btiok-shup ami house, tor two
years.
Kuweit was to have Ikoh tlic port and southern terminus ot
the projected Lia^iulad railroad, you know, aiul it seemed lo us
an important ami desirable jjlao: to occupy.
Wo reached Kuweit harbor one very hot morning. After a
nine o'clock breakfast on shipboard, wo hired a native boat and
went ashore, amid the usual amount ot confusion aiul sini;in^ by
the sailors. \\*o \vc*nt directly to the Sheikh's house, where we
wore i^ivcn a cool place to rest until lie should finish liis noou-
day nap.
l;iually the Sheikh came with liis retinue into the rccoptiou-
n)om, where wo, witli others, were waiting to see him. W e all
an>sc until lie was seated, when l was bidden to bo seated l>y
his side.
A tier tlie usual exchange of salutations ho conferred, in
Itirn, in \vlii>[)crs, with several of those who had boon waiting
willi us, receiving, a couple of letters from one of them. Ouc
(jf those, from what I saw and heard, I concluded was from our
arch enemy at Hah rein, warning tlio Sheikh ot' our coming, tell-
\\\^ him ot the scourge that had come to the people by our means,
and |)i*o[)Iicsyin^ ;i like calamity upon Kuweit it wo were allowed
lo remain.
After a few gruff questions about our work, our reasons tor
coming there aiul our plans, the Sheikh aiul followers departed
aiul wo were shown a room. We unpacked our heckling, and
prepared some food, for it was now the middle of the afternoon,
and we liad eaten nothing since morning.
Just as we were ready to partake of our melon and tea, a
servant came from the Sheikh to tell us that a native boat was
about to leave for Fao, a Turkish port, perhaps twenty miles dis­
tant, and we were to go aboard at once and leave the place. I
to<jk Amccn with mo aiul went to sco the Slicikh, leaving* Salome
>
to ^iiard our tilings. \Ve t'oiuul him sitting in a cotloc-shoi)
ium.mm<lc(l li). :i mimbcr of the most fanatical class of Moslems,