مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [و‎‎٣‎٨‎٨] (٨٠٢/٧٧٦)

and Sir A. Ryan agreed on a scheme, which they hoped would go a fair way to
secure the objects of the Nigerian Government without imposing excessive burdens
on the Sudan authorities and the Legation in Jedda. The proposals were in due
course approved by the Sudan Government.
VIII.— Slavery.
64. Two male slaves were manumitted in March and April. The Hejazi
authorities continue to show occasional signs of obstructiveness (January-
February report, paragraph 54). In April they objected to the departure ot a
slave on the ground that his ex-master had claims against him. The matter
required careful handling, as there appeared to be something in the allegation,
and the main grounds for complaint were the dilatoriness of the authorities and
their obvious sympathy with the ex-owner. The case was still outstanding at the
end of April. There are signs of difficulty in another direction, as the Italian
authorities, who have hitherto facilitated the embarkation of a proportion of
freed slaves to Massowah, seem less ready than formerly to receive them there.
IX.— Miscellaneous.
Approaches to Yambo and Jedda. ,
65. The local authorities completed early in March the restoration of the
two beacons swept away at Yambo in December (January-February report,
paragraph 60). They made a good job of it. Four new buoys have been procured
for Jedda, but had not been laid down up to the end of April.
Visitors to the Hejaz.
66. An unusual number of Europeans and other visitors of consequence came
to Jedda in March and April. Among them were the following :—
Major Thomson, Commissioner at Port Sudan and Mrs. Thomson, stayed for
a few days at the Legation in March.
Mr. R. S. Champion, Protectorate Secretary at Aden and Mrs. Champion
visited the Legation in April.
A German savant, Dr. Carl Ratjens, stayed in Jedda for a few days in April
on his way to the Yemen, where he had already done archaeological work and has
apparently established a good footing with the Iman.
Another German, Mr. Willy Hansen, the head of a Hamburg firm now per
manently represented in Jedda, was here about the same time as Dr. Carl Ratjens.
Mr. Twitchell, the American engineer employed by Mr. C. R. Crane on the
motor-road from Hodeidah to Sana, arrived in April with his English wife. The
visit was the outcome of an arrangement made between the King and Mr. Crane,
who during his visit to Jedda ofiered to send Mr. Twitchell to look into water
possibilities in the Hejaz. They were allowed to make two journeys, one
apparently in the neighbourhood of Jedda, the other it is said northward towards
Yambo and Wejh. They had not returned from the second expedition up to the
end of the month.
Another American, a Mr. Robinson, who is sailing round the world in three
years in a ketch with one South Sea Islander as crew, lay in Jedda harbour for a
week or so in April. He related many amusing adventures on the Arabian coast,
including one at Lith, where he was forcibly entreated and thrown into prison,
partly, it would appear, because he did not realise that he had passed from the
Yemen into another country.
Yet another American, an elderly Mrs. Douthirt, arrived later in April. She
is said to have played the piano before most of the crowned heads in Europe or the
world. She came to the anti-musical Hejaz to gratify a more modest ambition,
that of once more seeing Mr. Philby, whom she had previously visited in Jedda
67. The pilgrimage brought various notables, including ex-King Amanullah
and the numerous Afghans mentioned elsewhere; Prince Ahmed Tevhid, a son of
Prince Seifuddin of Turkey, who was himself a son of Sultan Abdul Aziz; Sir