Correspondence Relating to Ibn Saud Circulated to Kuwait by Other Gulf Posts [‎183v] (366/408)

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66 . At 9 A.M-Bin Saud visited us, after sending Ahmad Thanaiyan tn
warn us a few minutes before-hand. This is his first call, though we have bfcen
seeing him at his own request or invitation at least daily. He used to sit
alone in the small private Majlis-outside his office or in the big “ Roshan ”
(hall) adjoining our quarters and to send word for us to join him. In the
evening he usually received us on the roof lying between one of his private
houses and office which is reached by walking about 50 yards from, our
verandah and passing in front of the “ Jtoshan ” (hall) and the office.
6 ?. Bin Saud sat about 20 minutes talking of ordinary matters. He very
kindly said that he stepped in to see if we did not want anything and were
comfortable; that be had been telling his men daily that we must be well
looked after, and had been sending Ahmad Thanaiyan and Bin Shalhub to be
quite sure of that; that he had been taking our own word that we were quite
comfortable. I assured him that we did not want anything and thanked him
for his kindness and consideration. He also said that he hoped that we did not
mind his not visiting us in our quarters till then, but that he did not like to disturb
us, and preferred to meet us in the Roshan or the Majlis, both being about
midway between his office and our quarters. I said it was quite immaterial and
we were extremely obliged for his excellent hospitality and great regard always
shewn us from the moment we had arrived in his capital. He also said that I
must have found the time hanging rather heavily as there were no books or
newspapers to read, nor any places of interest to visit. I replied that I had the
“ 8 abaah Mualliqah *’ (old chivalrous Arab poems), Manasik Al Haji (on the
pilgrimage to Mecca), tw r o useful and interesting l30oks with me to read, and
sometimes wrote letters, morning and evening; the greater part of the day was
too hot to allow 7 of any reading or writing. We could not even offer the Imam
the commonest thing, coffee, as our coffee-boy had locked up the room
and gone out. So I had to content myself by apologising and saying
that after all it was his own house, and we his own guests : he would kindly
excuse . the shortcoming, whereupon Bin Saud repeated his favourite couplet
^ v/\/
(O, our guest, if you visit us you will find that we are (like) guests
and you (like) the host), and then departed saying that he was going
to Shaikh Abdullah Bin Abdul Latif’s, to try and reconcile this powerful
old Shaikh to a number of c Mutawiah ’ (mullas or priests) who have been
summoned for disobeying Shaikh Abdullah’s injunctions regarding public
preaching and disposal of cases, etc., etc. Some of these worthies have been
reported publicly criticising Bin Sand’s policy and relations with the other
rulers and the ‘ Ajanib ’ (foreigners) and preaching < Sbiddah ’ (Jehad) against
all non-Nejdis, who are Kafir to their mind. Inwardly, I thought, perhaps
the old Imam Abdur Rahman, whom we had visited the previous day, was
responsible for sending Bin Saud to see us.
68 A little later Biu^Saud sent Rarhan and myself, one volume each of
the books J)^ \ S Li (History of Nejd and Wahhabi movement).
This written in old style Arabic, but abuses other Moslem sects, as could
be expected of such a sectarian compilation.
# 69. Received further information regarding Bin Musaid. He has captured
Hajlah and Ibhah, the chief towns of Assir, and the ruler Bin Mhrai (Al-
A’ayadh) is said to have been driven away to the hills. This Bin Musaid is
one of the Al-Jilovi, nephew of the well-known Abdullah Bin Jilovi, Amir of
Hassa. The Imam Idrisi is on Bin Musaid’s (i.e., Bin Saud’s) side and has
been chiefly instrumental in this Akhwan victory. There has been much
blood shed in Ibha (said to be about as large as Riyadh) and a majority of
the inhabitants perished with the Akhwan sword. Report also says that the
•* ^-Turkish M ali, now a servant of the Idrisi, took part in this action. Akhwan
less only 15 men and 4 horses.
70. Called on Bin Saud after Asr prayer. Sat talking of common things
for about ten minutes. He is going off to see his brother who is camping
outside Riyadh. Bin Saud was kind enough to ask (as he does each time
when we see him) if we wanted anything. We thanked him sincerely and
replied we did not. He also asked us to excuse any shortcomings ^ in,
what he called Badudike, arrangements for food, etc. I assured him that we
yrere quite comfortable and were served with excellent food and plenty of