New Britain herald., 1924-03-05
NEJD IS PLACE ID
 GO FOR FIGHTING
In This Arabian Province Sword
 Is Exclusion Law

Washington. n. C.. March 5.-Re- port of the death Of the Sultan of Nejd, Emir Of all central Arabia. turns the news spotlight to a place where it seldom rests, and where it is all but lost in vast desert wastes. Arabia has been figuring in world affairs since the curtain rose on the first act in history" says a bulletin from the Washington. D. C., head quarters of the National Geographic society dealing with the Nejd, and yet it has large areas about which we know practically nothing.
 "Because of the huge bulk of Asia. its numerous peninsulas are some what dwarfed, and one may fall into the error of chasing Arabia with peninsuias nearer home. such as Florida. But sixty Floridas would be lost in this great Asian projection; it is. in fact. third as large as the en- tire United States.
 PuritaBs of the Mohamme,lan. World
 Tremendous desert wastes are not alone responsible for the fact that the outside world is ignorant of the Neid in the heart of Arabia. That Country--if the area over which the Neidian nomads roam may be called a country-has one of the most efTec- tive exclusion laws known: the eN- cusion law of the sword. These people do not care to go into the out side world. and they want no visits rom Western traders, diplomats. military experts, or missionaries especially missionaries. They are hood thirsty fanatics on the' subject Of religious simplicity. As Wahabis they are perhaps better known to shc world than as Neidians, for the for mer name they owe 10 their religious associations.
 Blue laws have never taken on so deep tinge of blue as in the land of tin" Nahabis. To drink or even smoke tobacco is not merely a dere- fiction in their strict code; il is a capital aftense, If is equally an oi- rclrse according to their views. to use rich rugs and fine vessels in Mosques, and they have made more than one effort to invade Mecca itself 10 reduce the holy places there to Wahaht sim plicity. They even look upon other Mohammedans not of their sect as lnhciieNers unworthy uf life.
 Capita, a Forbidden City.
 The capital Of the Neid, Hiad, is more truly forbidden city than is lhasa. The only westcrner known tn ha'e visited il in recent years was un American. smGcgled in that he might save the life ut a entertain. and t is believed that even this crrand Of mercy would not have saved him from summary execution save for q little group of defenders who for Il brief umr stretched their standards.
 "Thcre has been sultan and an Netting Sultan of Nrid in recent years. the first an aged patriarch and the second his energetic heir not yet i0 years Of awr. Reports of the death Of the Sultan dO not make it rlear which of these leaders has passed away. The young ruler has stuck closely to the inidnction of tho Prophet to limit his Wifrs To four ut one time. He adopted the plan of paving one chict, permanent wife, and of changing the other three every DO days After serving us tenn iorary Sultanns. the ar-day wives were hcstowrd on some favored un- 'icriinE, Two Armenian girls were iprrut mcmhtrs of. his 'amily circle.
 "Grcat lhitain has been paying the ruler Of inc Ncid q huge subsidy Soo. ouo year. an 'honorarinm four times as great as the salary and ale loWauc. Of the president Of the United States. Thr young sultan has taken ;hr cash and has let his followers 20 about iheir forrays pretty much as they wished. Great Britain has had io spend much morr than the sub sidy. II is said. defending th" kings pr Hrdiaz. Trans ordanla and 1raq nruinst MnhaI inrMr ions"