Sat 28 [28 March 1914] Breakfasted with the Naqib at 8. He was
deeply interested in my stories of Hayyil [Hail]. His wife is a Ja'far by
origin like the Rashid and many of the Shammar. They are of various
Jidda but the Abdeh are 'Araba - the northern Arabs Must'ariba (he is
one) from Ishmael ibn Ibrahim. He questioned me as to
Shakespeare's visit to Ibn Sa'ud wanting to know whether the taking
of the Hasa had been arranged with us. Asked had we permitted
arms to go through Kwait [Al Kuwayt (Kuwait)] and what was our
arrangement with Muscat [Masqat] and the French. He talked much
of Europe and was well informed as to European relations. He said
the word Nejd meant hill country, Tahama plain and Hajaz what lies
between. Then to Musa Patchaji. Saw his wife and daughter
Zekkiyyeh who is married and has a daughter. He also says things
have gone to ruin, regrets Nazim - King Stork! No one here will take
any part in politics because they can do nothing against the
Committee. So to the Tods. Bought abas and izars and lunched with
them. At 3 went with Mrs Tod and Meissner to see the rly works. The
debarquement in a palm garden, cranes working, engines being put
together in open air. The line laid to the station will probably become
a high road - they are aligning their official houses along it. Great
sheds for stones - they have neither stone, nor sand, nor wood nor
water. They make concrete, grind up pebbles to sand and the water
is too much impregnated with salts. The station fittings of teak
because of white ants. Saw the hospital, the sisters' lodgings, drank
soda water at the little factory. They treat all illnesses, not only
accidents and women and children too. Walked out to the great ....
which digs up the earth with which they make the embankment on
which the station is built. A crowd of people always looking on - it
seemed alive! Then to station - it is only a goods shed fitted up for
station till they see how big a station they will need. If they get
permission for Basrah [Basrah, Al (Basra)] the station will have to be
bigger. In one of the sheds we saw the bells for the station - great
bells stamped Bagdad [sic]. He hauIed some men over the coals for
using rails to hammer on. So walked back, drank beer at the Hotel
Bagdadbahn. The town will be built on that side and when the rly
embankment provides against floods all the land will be building
land. Members of the staff are buying it in their own names, but I
gather in the interests of the company. Hauptmann Weid a very
pleasant head of a section walked with us. Dined with the Hesses,
where I met Mr Whitley (Jackson's head man) and the Italian Consul.
Acrimonious discussion with Hesse about Nazim Pasha.