مجموعة ٦/ ١٩ "الجزيرة العربية: (المملكة العربية السعودية) التقرير السنوي لمملكة الحجاز ونجد." [و‎‎٩‎٦] (٥٤٠/١٩٢)

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King that whenever Feisal is in Riyadh, Sand is to consult him about Hejaz
affairs and not to deal with them independently. This story suggests that Saud
himself has a real place in the Administration. Feisal’s part in the work of
Viceroy of the Hejaz is believed to be purely nominal. The Amir Baud s outlook
on life has become much more modern since his tour in Europe; his wireless m
Mecca blazes music abroad from a house opposite the Haram, and he has been
known to view a private cinema show without any attempt at concealment; but
if general report is to be believed, the specialist in all the forms of entertainment,
without exception, that the Hejaz affords, is the Amir Feisal.
124. Public security continues to be Ibn Baud’s most striking success, to such
an extent that the occurrence of a few burglaries in Jedda aroused the greatest
surprise. The Transjordan authorities noticed that when some of the
Transjordan tribes returned to their homes this year, they left their flocks and
herds m the charge of herdsmen in the Wady Sirhan, so complete was the security
there. It was noticed by the Political Agent at Koweit that when the King went
on his northern tour in the autumn, he gave Hail a wide berth owing, he stated in
letters to the Sheikh of Koweit, to “ the oppressive gatherings of people.” He,
however, contracted yet another alliance with the Rashid family by marrying a
daughter of Muhammad-al-Tallal. The only discontent that has been heard of
is that of the Hejazis, who complain that nearly all the revenue collected in the
Hejaz is removed to Riyadh for “ overhead expenses,” and a grumble from Hasa
against the burden of taxation. The prospecting parties sent out by the mining
and oil enterprises are compelled by the Saudi authorities to take with them a
Saudi escort of about ten men each, but it is believed that the escorts might be
smaller without risk, and that the number has been fixed with an eye to the
considerable sum in gold which the companies pay to the authorities for the
escorts in addition to the dollars and food given to the men themselves. No
estimate can yet be made of the effect of the Arms Regulation which was mentioned
in paragraph 204 of the 1935 report. Some excitement, and hesitation about
handing over arms, was heard of in the northern towns, but this was a year ago
and no more has been heard about it. The order against the wearing of swords
and daggers in the cities is effective in Jedda to such an extent that when a sword
was wanted by a European for a fancy dress party, it was with some difficulty that
a person could be found who would admit that he owned one.
125. The policy of conciliating former malcontents was continued. Two
of the Hejazis who returned under the amnesty were made members of the
Legislative Council, and a third, Director of Education. This policy has its
disadvantages in that Hejazis who did not intrigue against Ibn Saud are annoyed
at the favour shown to those who did, so that jealousy of some of their own people
is added to jealousy of the Nejdis. Ibn Saud made an even bolder experiment
in appointing one returned malcontent, Sheikh Khalid-bin-Hithlain of the
Ajman, as Governor of the Ajman desert, and marrying his sister. Most of the
tribal elements who had fled the country had taken advantage of the amnesty by
the end of the year, but one group, as has been recorded elsewhere, seems to have
decided to stay in Iraq for the present owing to the increase in the allowances
from the King of Iraq.
126. Tales of poverty in the interior are common, but it is difficult to decide
whether this poverty is new or merely becoming better known through the frequent
journeys of mining and oil prospectors in parts or Arabia never before visited
by Europeans. And in normal circumstances the nomad Arab lives sparely and is
often half starved. Nevertheless, it seems certain that the camel transport trade
has been badly hit by the competition of motor transport; and the people in
Jedda and Mecca do not make as much profit out of the pilgrims as they did. On
the other hand, the Cot-of-Gold mine is employing several hundred men and
helping to reduce poverty in Mecca, and the California Arabian Standard Oil
Company has a large wage bill for native labour on the other side of the country.
Hopes are built on the extension of these industrial enterprises, and also on an
increase in the number of pilgrims, now that the world crisis seems to be passing,
while the poor of Medina are to benefit again from the Egyptian wakf funds.
127. The taboo on music has quite ceased to operate. Wireless is in common
use, not only in Jedda, but in provincial towns and even in Mecca. Ibn Saud is
known to listen with pleasure to the broadcasts of the singing of Egyptian women