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'Sherif of Mecca.' [‎3r] (5/8)

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The record is made up of 1 file (4 folios). It was created in 1915. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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battalions, but estimates the Turkish forces in Hijaz and Yemen to be
approximately as follows:
7 battalions at Medina.
7 battalions at Mecca.
4 battalions at Jeddah.
10 battalions at El Taif.
20 battalions in Yemen, at Senaa, liodaida, Menakha, Zebid Taiz, c'tc.
54 ;:: ' total. (Xote. — This figure is obviously a gross exaggeration.)
ttherifs plans and policy. —The policy of the present Sherif of Mecca is
to consolidate himself as Independent Emir of Mecca, and the whole of the
Hejaz country and a part of Asir, and he is working to that object with all
his might.
lie has already gained the natives of Hejaz and a part of the Asir tribes,
who consider him to be a great politician.
Messenger has heard secretly that the Arab officers of the Turkish
forces in the liejaz have sworn to the Sherif to be his support and to light
under his ilag.
They declared that the}' do not wish to go and light in El Yemen, nor
take any part in the (Ireat War, but to remain with him and defend the
Haramein against any invader.
Many deserters from the Turkish Army at Yemen come to the Sherif,
and the Sherif pays them regularly and hides them from military
authorities.
The Sherif's prestige has consequently become paramount; so much so,
that the Sultan thought it wise in the present circumstances to gain his
loyalty, and therefore sent him a firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). proclaiming him the Chief Governor
and Administrator of Ilejaz, with the \Vali under his orders.
This has greatly increased the Sherif's prestige, and greatly reduced that
of the Turks in Hejaz.
The. Sherif is in continual communication with Imam Yehia and El Idrisi.
His present policy is to make peace with El Idrisi and between El Idrisi
and El Imam Yehia.
Messenger is firmly of opinion that El Idrisi considers El Imam Yehia as
a traitor, but has a certain respect for the Sherif of Mecca.
He considers him a politician, but does not regard him as a "standard"
or religious leader.
There is no fear of a famine in El Ilejaz since the English opened the
trade route to Jedda, and the Arabs feel very grateful to the English for the
opening of the route.
Family and Agents of the Sherif.
All, the eldest son of the Sherif Hosayn, went to Medina in Rabi Awal
1333 (March 1915) to quiet the Heni Harb Arabs.
Ahdalla, the second and most important son of the Sherif, was sent by
his father to Nejd in Jemad 1333 (March 1915) to make peace with the
Arabs of that country.
h'alsal, third son, went to Constantinople March 1915 as a member of
Parliament for the Ilejaz to protest against the recruiting of the Bedouins of
the Hejaz.
Zeid, the fourth son, was sent by his father in Jemad (March 1915) to
Asir, to make peace with the tribes of that country.
They all returned in Shaaban (June 1915) and were present with their
father when the messenger left Taif for Cairo.
* liesides the native irregular troops of tlte Slierif, composed of Eteiba, Hisha, Ogeil
(? Aqhayl), and Hozeil Arabs.
s. 281. b

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Content

The file consists of a confidential printed report entitled 'Sherif of Mecca'. The report contains transcriptions of correspondence, a statement by a messenger (described below), and notes relating to Sherif Hosayn, the Sherif [Shereef] of Mecca [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī], particularly in terms of his relations with the United Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire. The report contains the following sections:

  • Dispatch from His Majesty's High Commissioner for Egypt (Sir Arthur Henry McMahon), dated 26 August 1915;
  • Communication from the Sherif of Mecca to Mr Storrs [Ronald Henry Amherst Storrs], Oriental Secretary to British Representative Cairo, dated 14 July 1915;
  • Statemement of Messenger, Mohammed Ibn Arif Ibn Oreifan, 18 August 1915;
  • Family and Agents of the Sherif, by 'R S' [Ronald Henry Amherst Storrs], dated 19 August 1915;
  • Note on communication from the Sherif of Mecca, by 'R S' [Ronald Henry Amherst Storrs], dated 19 August 1915;
  • Letter from Sir Arthur Henry McMahon to His Highness the Sherif Hosayn (undated).

The file contains five copies of the report, only one of which has been foliated and digitised.

Extent and format
1 file (4 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation commences at 1 on the first folio and terminates at 4 on the last folio. The numbers are written in pencil, are enclosed in a circle, and appear in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. page of each folio.

Pagination: the document also has an original printed pagination, numbered 2-7 (folios 1-4).

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English in Latin script
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'Sherif of Mecca.' [‎3r] (5/8), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B215, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023445216.0x000006> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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