File 756/1917 Pt 1 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 1 to 65’ [‎510r] (1024/1240)

11 Sheikh Salim is very busy introducing reforms. One of his
first acts Avas to send for the Jews and forbid them henceforth to
distil liquor in Kuweit. The amount of drinking that had been
going on in the place was becoming a scandal. I had occasion
to speak of it^several times to the late Sheikh and once publicly
in his Mejlis in the market-place. Nothing was done, hoAvever,
till Salim took the matter up. He is inclined to puritanism, and
strong liquor is anathema to him. The Sheikh is also dividing
the city into Mahallas or quarters, each under a Mukhtar or
guardian, who will be responsible for maintaining order in his
quarter and for bringing all delinquencies to notice. Particularly,
he will be expected to keep an eye on all strangers and report
their goings-on, if suspicious. Export-dues, fish and house taxes
have been abolished, and all imports are uoav to pay a uniform
ad valorem duty of 4 per cent. These and other reforms have
been separately reported. They are viewed Avith favour by the
people generally ; but, no doubt, those whose bad habits or private
interests are affected, Avill seek means of subverting the new
regime sooner or later. Detraction of the Sheikh will probably
be their chief weapon. The Customs-Master and Mullah Salih,
who are said to have feathered their nests rather too luxuriously,
are being carefully watched, and one Abdul Aziz bin Salim has
been appointed Mufatish, or superintendent over them.
The Sheikh appears to be genuinely anxious to put a stop
to the illicit trade Avith Hail and Medina; but in this he Avill have
enormous difficulties to contend with.. The other day he sent for
the principal merchants, showed them a letter from me on the
subject, and threatened them with dire penalties if they continued
their blockade-running ventures. He warned them he would not
punish them in the mild frankish way (i.e. by fine and imprison
ment), but Avould cut off the tongue of any offender he caught.
It is to be hoped that this threat will hav^e an effect; but the
enormous profits of the traffic have so far proved too great a
temptation for even the best among them.”
Hejaz Mission to Abyssinia.
Sayyid Abbas Melki, who had been sent by the King of the
Hejaz to promote his cause among the Abyssinian and Somali
Moslems, and counteract the formerly active Turkish propaganda,
has now returned home after a most successful journey.
As has already been said, he started off badly, scandalizing
local opinion by inveighing against the Ottoman Sultan’s person.
This having been put right, all went Avell. He travelled from
Adis Abeba Avith the British Somaliland Commissioner through
Harar and Hargeisa to Berbera, and had a gratifying reception,
especially in the last two places, where he was feted by all the
Moslem community. His journey, therefore, cannot have failed
to have good results.