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this occasion by putting it about that he had come as Belgian consul, apparently
on the ground that he once held that position and had never lost it. The French
Charge d'Affaires not unnaturally declined the request by Depui for delivery of
the Belgian archives in the French consulate, which has long looked after Belgian
interests. There is no present reason to suppose that the Belgian Government
are behind this move, but Depui himself may desire an official status for the
furtherance of commercial schemes.
315. The Persian Minister returned to Jedda on the 10th December, smiling
as hard as ever.
316. There is no confirmation of a rumour circulated some time agp in
Egypt that the Japanese Government intended to appoint a certain As Saqqaf
as consul in Saudi Arabia. It has been denied in Tokyo.
IV.— Miscellaneous.
317. His Majesty’s Minister and Lady Ryan returned to Jedda on the
13th December. This restored the Diplomatic Body proper to its full strength of
eight heads of mission, but the new Egyptian consul is still awaited, the German
consulate is still vacant and the Afghan representation more than nebulous.
318. The French sloop Vimy arrived in Jedda on the 13th December and
left on the 15th. It is worth mentioning, because it is so unusual, that her
commander and two officers lunched at the British Legation on the 14th December,
following on meetings when Sir Andrew and Lady Ryan were in Port Sudan.
The Vimy brought as a passenger Mrs. Bennett, wife of the Director of Customs
in the Sudan, who stayed at the British Legation for three days.
319. A Dutch official from Java, M. Pfeffer, stated to be an Arabic scholar,
stayed for several days at the beginning of the month with the Dutch Charge
d’Affaires before leaving for Egypt. It is believed he intends to spend some
time touring Arabic-speaking countries.
320. A Dutch bacteriologist, M. Van der Hoog, who ran a useful laboratory
in Jedda some years ago, is expected to return in the near future. In the interval
he has embraced Islam, apparently in order to increase his opportunities for
scientific work.
321. Copious rain is said to have fallen in Riyadh (paragraph 292 of the
last report) towards the middle of December and there was a further fall in
Jedda about the same time. These early rains give promise of a good winter
and spring throughout all the northern parts of Saudi Arabia. The country
round Jedda has been positively verdant. Varied, if uninspiring, wild flowers
can be gathered by those prepared to affront the harsh winter winds which blow
when the thermometer falls to 70 degrees and even lower.
322. Despite these favourable climatic conditions about a third of the
European residents in Jedda were stricken with diseases, mostly sharp fevers, in
the last ten days of December. This unusual wave of illness must be set down to
the treachery of the climate and the mosquitoes, not to dissipation. Indeed, the
British community, though afflicted, has suffered less in proportion than others
despite considerable revelry on the evenings of the 24th and 25th December.
323. The approximate number of pilgrims who had reached Jedda from
the principal countries of origin up to the end of December was as follows :—
From the Straits Settlements :—
Steamship Poelairoebiah
1,083
Steamship Alcinous
373
From India :—
Steamship Jehangir ...
430
Steamship Islami
835
324. A new addition to the Turner Morrison fleet, the steamship Islami,
arrived in Jedda on the 31st December. She is a vessel of 5,878 tons built on
modern lines for the pilgrim traffic, with inter alia increased accommodation for
pilgrims of the richer class.