Page 205 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

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XEGLECTED ARABIA 5

Jay and asked for the kaffir when I was not present. I have not once
heard ‘'dog” or the curses of God wished upon me. The attitude of
patients coming for treatment was so much more cordial and they
showed more confidence in us. Almost all operative cases were
perfectly willing to be operated on when I suggested operating. The
usual answer was, "As you like; when do you want to operate, now r"
Usually a delay of a day or even a half a day was demurred at. "Why
not now?’* This seemed to be Hassa and not Riadh.
I have tried to analyze the reasons for this change and consider the
following the most important.
The Ikhwan movement is on the decline. A religious movement can
not forever be kept at white hear even if it is directed into martial
channels, llie lkhwans are still strong, hut there is not luucli’nune
fur them to do. All Nejd has mine under the sway of the Sultan,
even Asir, lying between Yeman and the Hcdjaz. Whichever direction
they now turn they are met by independent states with treaties with
Great Britain, and the Sultan himself is subsidized and has a treaty

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THE KOVAL CASTLE. KIADIL
•itli the British. The lklnvan must now settle down again cither to
i pastoral or agricultural life. They here find that partly because of
Uck of care and partly because of lack of rain for the last five or six
jurs their camels, sheep and goats are gone and wells are dry. They
iic thrown upon the mercy of the Sultan and he does indeed a great
Jed toward their relief. But one cannot help being struck by the
^fjjc number of Bedouin tents outside of both Hassa and Riadh and