Trouble in Arabia.

Manawatu Herald, 4 June 1895, Page 2

Trouble in Arabia.

News has reached Cairo that, the British Vice-Consul in Jeddah, one of the principal trading centres in' Arabia, was attacked by Bedouins and killed. The British, French and Italian Consuls were also attacked, but, although severely wounded, they escaped with their lives. Owing to the disorder, the British Mediterranean squadron assembles at Beyrout, on the coast of Syria, immediately. Arabia is a country one seldom reads about, probably because the - most of it is a desert, which is inhabited by Bedouins, The maps

appear as blank, except along the sea boards; as Africa used to be shown in Atlase?; Tlje cpuiifrry is ,ft peninsula joined to Tiirkey4n-Asia on the North, and bounded by the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. r The trouble has arisen in Jeddah which is the port, on the Red Sea, of the Turkish province ofHedjaz. tn fact tiie Whole coast liile of the fied Sea in Arabia is divided into Turkish prdvindes. The independent tribes On the Boast are r Wind together Under treaties •with the Indian government to maintain a maritime truce for the prevention of piracy, and the slave trade and for the cessation of hostilities at sea. The British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, who resides ordinarily at Bushire in Persia) is the recognised arbiter in the quarrels of these tribes, and the peace of the Gulf is maintained by the British flag. Jeddah is the port of the two sacred cities of Mecca and Medinah. Mecca was the birth-place of Mahomet. On one of the neighbouring hills is a cave, where it is asserted he retired to perform hii devotions, and where the greatest part of the Koran was brought to him by the angel. Pilgrimages to Mecca still continue. Medinah is famous lor the tomb of Mahomet, in a large mosque, lighted by rich lamps. Medinah was called the City of the Prophet, because her« Mahomet was protected when he fled from Mecca. By this it will be understood that Mahometanism is very strong, if not fanatical in this district, and in June 1858 a more serious outbreak is recorded, when the Mahometans massacred twenty^six of the Christian inhabitants, among them being the English and French Consuls and part of their families. Eleven of the assassins and some of the ring* leaders were afterwards exeouted. The British fleet is really waiting in the Mediterranean off the Suez canal, for orders. The Jeddah Consuls were enjoying a stroll in the evening when the . Bedouins fired upon them at a distance of only four yards. It is feared that the Russian and French Consuls will die. Fifteen of the assailants were arrested. Three British warships have been ordered to Jeddah.