File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎143v] (295/834)

128 —
experiment, tried in consideration of the circumstances under
which the Salt refugees have come to be under our protection
at all. The authorities, are prepared to learn much by experience.
It is proposed to institute, for example, conveyance of the daily
rations from the railway, half a mile off, by the people them
selves. This plan may easily break down in practice, where
there is no constraint. Sanitary and washing regulations offer
another probable bone of contention between the staff and a
population accustomed to go as it pleases, and insensible to what
most offends our senses. For meals, a spoon and drinking
vessel apiece are to be provided : sufficient dixies are at hand,
and probably some kind of metal platter will be found for each
mess. But such things cannot be got all at once in Palestine.
Distribution into messes will probably resolve itself into
grouping by families, and if quarrels over water, use of fire and
so forth, are to be minimised, the control will be wise to let the
people group and re-group themselves as far as possible. It is
hoped that, if we are not in a position to repatriate the refugees
within a short time, individuals will go off harvesting, or even,
after a while, either find their own way back east of Jordan or
be absorbed into the Palestine population. But it must be
confessed, the chances of an Arab camp population materially
reducing itself, so long as it can live at free rations and is not
required to work, are not verv great !
D.G.H.
TRAFFIC BETWEEN DAMASCUS AND KOWEIT.
hheikh Alian ibn Hassan Ahmed of the Beni Sakhr, an
intelligent youth of about twenty years of age, was captured
with Lieut.-Colonel Newcombe, D.S.O., last October and taken
to Damascus. I here he escaped from his guard and took refuge
with friends, who arranged for him to join a caravan returning
fi om Damascus to Hazil, Hayyania and beyond. The following
information given by him, the main outlines of which there is
no reason to doubt, shows that a considerable traffic now takes
place between Damascus and Koweit.
His caravan was joined at Dhumair by several others which
were returning together for the sake of safety. He was told
that these had all arrived at Damascus during the previous
month laden with cloth, sugar, coffee and petroleum from Koweit.
he combined caravans numbered, according to his estimate
winch is probably exaggerated, several hundred men and 5,000
camels, the latter being owned or hired by Mohammed Bassam
o amascus^ or by merchants of Qasim, Hail or Kebeisa. At
idayyama, which was reached in about thirty-two days, the party
split up, some going to Koweit, some to Hail, while Alian with