File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎301v] (611/834)

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while at Mecca.) This boy is about four years old aud is the
true sou of his father. He is a strong, stout boy with bold,
prominent and deeply observant eyes, thoughtful expression of
the face, high forehead and dignified and decorous bearing.. His
complexion is slightly darker than his elder brother, but fairer
than his father.
The third child, Abdul Aziz, is from the slave wife and is
nearly of the same age as the second son. His features and com
plexion are something like his father’s, but he is a child of
frivolous character and inferior to his half brothers. The two
younger sons, Abdur Rahman and Ahmad, are still very young
and I have not seen them. The daughter is about a year old and
has quite a fair complexion. Her mother is one of the Sudanese
wives of Egyptian extraction.”
EFFECTS OF THE ARMISTICE IN SOUTH WEST
ARABIA.
• • ■ - . i.v.j :: .•. ■: i: . : i
The extent of the collapse of Turkey seems now to have
been grasped throughout South-West Arabia ; and the realization
that the garrisons are in consequence likely to disappear soon
from the scene has given rise, as might have been expected, to a
regular vortex of intrigue. But the evidence which is coming to
hand is so varied and often so untrustworthy that it is impos
sible to predict yet the balance of power which will succeed that
of the Turks.
The parts round which such intrigues naturally centre—
excluding Khurma—-are those on the South Hejaz, Asir and
Yemen border, in particular those which have been in the vicin
ity and under the direct influence of the Turkish garrisons, e.g.
Ebha and Muhail. The evacuation of the Turks raises two
questions in almost every case, the disposal of their arms and
material, and the filling of the gaps which will be created by
their departure.
King liusein.
In this connection King Husein has, broadly speaking,
played a passive role. He has been preoccupied with Medina
and Khurma ; and in any event it is his nature tacitly to assume
his possession of anything that he desires. It is natural, however,
that many border sheikhs hitherto independent of or antagonistic
to the Idrisi and the Imam should turn to him for support. The
Idrisi’s military incompetence has evoked general comment; .while
the Imam has only too clearly backed the wrong horse. Both
too are paupers by comparison. The King, in consequence, has
received numerous offers of allegiance. Most of them are addres
sed to him as King of the Arabs, and he appears to have accepted
them without surprise as his ordinary due. In one case he has
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