Page 286 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

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NEGLECTED AKA HI A I.J

this sacred rite, in defiance of one of the very pillars of Islam. The
few that had visited Mecca had been subjected to grievous insults.
Things came to a head when after two attacks on Transjordania and
Iraq, where the airplanes were too much for the desert fighters, the
troops of Bin Saoud took the mountain city of Taif, 00 miles southeast
of Mecca. Hussein now appealed to the British for aid, but they turned
deaf ears to his entreaties—too often had he refused to come to terms
with that government. Hussein fled to Jidda, where on October 4th, he
resigned in favor of his son Ali, evidently to preserve the kingdom for
his house. But it was of no avail. By the 13th of October, the troops
of Bin Saoud obstructed the roads between Mecca and the seaport of
Jidda, forcing Ali to retire to the latter city, lie refused to negotiate
except for unconditional surrender of the Sacred City. He also insisted
upon the abdication of all the members of Hussein’s family. Thousands
of Meccans fled to Jidda. King Hussein remained there till the 15th,
when he sailed for Akaba on his yacht, a pitiful object, deserted by
practically all his followers, but carrying with him, it is said, some
$15,000,000 of family treasure. The Moslems of Turkey and India
showed no sorrow over his downfall.
About the same time the Ikhwan occupied Mecca. Apparently they
plundered the houses of the King and those of his ministers, but re­
spected the sacred places and refrained from molesting the ordinary
citizens. Word was sent to the fleeing Meccans that they need have no
fear of returning and that their lives and property would be respected.
According to the latest reports, Ali is still at Jidda. After receiving
some reinforcements, he made an unsuccessful attempt to advance, for
Uin Saoud’s forces, also reinforced, advanced to the outer defences of
Jidda.
Late in October Sultan Bin Saoud called together at Riadh, his
capital, an assembly of about 300 generals and sheikhs from his terri­
tories and El-Hassa, together with three Syrians, two Egyptians and
two Irakians. The Sultan set forth his views as regards the control of
the Holy Cities and the security of the pilgrims. He attacked vigorously
King Hussein and his family and affirmed that he would not make peace
till the entire Sharifian family had left the Hedjaz. He announced that
he was proceeding to call a congress of Moslems at Mecca to decide
uj»on the administration of the Hedjaz.
In mid-November, with a following of 400 and an armed guard of
1,(XX), Bin Saoud left the capital on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Events in the Moslem world of the very recent past have been so
unexpected and astounding, that it would be rash to make any predic­
tions as to the future. Certainly Bin Saoud has as much right to rule
over Mecca as any Arab ruler of the present time. And if he makes and
keeps the pilgrim routes safe, once for all, he will earn the enduring
gratitude of the entire Mohammedan world.