Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-17
J|DDA IS CALLED
MECCA ENTRANCE
Red Sea Port Where 100
MosIems Recently Lost Lives
Picturesque City.

Jidda, venerable Red Sea port. in the
harbor Of which more than 100 MoslemS
recently lost their lives aboard q burn
ing pilgrim ship, In the front door Of
Mecca" famous heart of the Moslem
world, according to bulletin from the
National Geographic Society.
"Jidda's wall inclosing about 10000
Moslems and a mere handful of inf.
dels' tnon-Moslems). rises above the
sun-baked eastern shore of the Red
Sea about midway between Alden and
Suez," says the bulletin. Coral reefs
stretch menacing arms into the broad,
natural Jidda harbor, and large ves-
sells, bearing thousands Of pilgrims an
nually from Africa, Asia, and even the
East Indies, anchor beyond these OBJ
stacles.
Visited by Few '1nfideIs."
"A thrilling ride on a choppy sea in
small craft, short stay at an island
quarantine station, II one is healthy
and clean. and another short boat ride,
and the traveller sets foot on the Jidda
| quay-a feat that only a few 'infidels'
| have accomplished, for Jidda does not
| extend a Gothamlike welcome to nom
Moslems, nor does the hot sun and dust
Of the city's streets attract many curl.
Gus travellers. The 'infider population,
most of which is engaged In business
for foreign establishments and foreign
governments, numbers about so.
"A bright Arabian sun, beating upon
the white wall and the long two-story
| white customs house which introduces
Jidda causes the traveller to squirt, and
unless he possesses sun glasses the
wrinkles about his eyes become set be-
fore he has lived long In the city.
Painted DOnkeys.
"In the tortuous streets beyond the
customs building bordering houses,
nearly all of them balconied offer some
shade, but these choice spots are often
occupied by lettering natives, some en-
Joying their gurgling water pipes, some
discussing the latest caravan that left
for the Holy City, and some squatting
at the feet of their donkeyS, which Are
for hire. Now and then one comes upon
one Of these stubborn quadrupeds with
nose, neck and the area around the
eyes painted in such a manner that
they would make splendid partners for
Western circus clowns.
Here and there Jidda streets open
into small squares. The traveller who
has been blindly working his way
1 through clouds OF dust raised by shut
fling camels hoofs heaves a sigh Of
relief on entering such q broad breath
| hiB oPdSC. 0LlOItly, however, ne unQB
that the square affords merely a larger
area than the streets for caravans to
assemble in, a broader area of dust to
be stirred with every movement of an
animal or human being, and q greater
opportunity for the suns rays to have
an unhampered thrust at already
parched pedestrians.
| Camels Are Local Taxis.
ITO see Jidda travellers must walk
or mount camel. for automobiles have
not yet invaded the taxi field of this
city. One may hire place in a shug-
duff, . wooden frame fitted over q
cameHs hump, with o tray on each
side forming seats for passengers. The
shugduf is kept in place mainly by bal
ance. The natives often are amused
when an uninitiated visitor in one side
of Shugduf thoughtlessly leaves his
seat and his companion in the other
seat is precipitated to the ground.
Perhaps the most comfortable spots
in Jidda are in the bazaars, where ex-
tending roofs shade the street, allow
ing only thin pencils OF sunlight to
/ touch the human mass below In one
bazaar street the traveller rubs elbows
with black Moslems from Africa, deeply
tanned Arabians. and yellow, brown and
reddish brown ASiatics. Many are per-
manent residents; others are here to
fulhll one Of the greatest aspirations
in the life Of q Moslem--a visit to
Mecca"