File 3300/1916 Pt 3 'Aden News-Letters: 1919-20' [‎378r] (111/633)

rank a*u fils and th«.ir aim. ar* no mor« thtJi a fcr-
ciblfc imposition of th«ir strict and puritaniCcl doc-
trinos in a most untaotful, unoompromisin* and rude
manner without the least idea of a proper orernment
or administration. Their simple ideas of unity of Cod
and equality of mankind do appeal to popular ffncy,
and they carry everythin* before them in a fit of fired
fancy by sheer force of numbers, but their bigotry, fa
naticism and narrowmindedness in treatin* thsss wh*
differ from them even in such email metiers e f o in.
or the chewing of tobacco, as Kafirs, leaves in the
I minds of the people nothing but hatred ana repulsion
I against them. Although, the people of Abba have met
with merely their deserts on beinr thus treatsd by
Ibn Baud's men, but in reality, the prohibition of the
burial of the dead bodies of those killed in the town j j
during the massacre which followed their entry into it
was simply inhuman. I kn.w the fact, but have not dis
cus* ed this point with the deputation, as 1 knew that
according to their beliefs, they (the dead) were apos
tates and the body of an apostate is not rshpeoted."
Captain Kasluddin further says that on being
asked Whether he will assist Ibn Baud in his invasion
of fcecca. the Idrisi replied -we are not allowed ts
fight in the sacred precinots of Kaaba, nor does Ibn
gaud intend to fight in I ecca. all that he -ill uo is
to besiege i ecca alter taking Taif and cut/ off its
communications. 1 shall avoid practical assistance as
far s possible and in fact he does not stand in need |
of my assistance. As regards Kunfida, 1 am still pa-
tlently awaiting tha cttsciBion of the British OOTornmti
It afpears from the further details receired of
the fighting in j\bha # that although the Akhwtns did
not suffer many casualties in the open fighting out
side Abha t they lost more than 1CCC men at the hands
of