494 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1880- 



regular visits of such a line of steamers as the British 

 India are a more forcible lesson than any display of 

 martial strength. Respect thus obtained contains no 

 germs of hatred, if those whose power is admired use it 

 in justice, honour, and kindliness. In this respect it 

 cannot be said that Europeans always act up to their 

 responsibilities. But England, one is proud to say, has 

 a good name in Arabia, a far better name than some other 

 Christian countries. Our national reputation has been 

 greatly raised by the prosperity of Aden, and by the 

 admitted excellence of the government there. In Jeddah, 

 where many of the influential merchants and other in 

 habitants are Indian Mohammedans, the advantage of 

 being a British subject is thoroughly understood. These, 

 indeed, are considerations which appeal mainly to the more 

 intelligent classes. The prejudices of the ignorant masses 

 are only to be conquered by actual experience in contact 

 with the foreigner, and thus every Englishman in a place 

 like this bears on his shoulders something of national 

 responsibility. In Jeddah this responsibility has, on the 

 whole, been well discharged. The labouring man knows 

 the advantage of being employed by Englishmen. 

 Personal relations, too, are gradually formed, especially 

 in times of sickness, when all manner of people have 

 learned to come for advice and treatment to the &quot; English 

 House&quot; of Messrs. Wylde, Beyts, and Co., who formerly 

 held the Consulate of Great Britain, and are still the real 

 representatives of our country in the eyes of the people. 



Such relations break down much of the old jealousy, 

 especially when backed up by the really liberal spirit in 

 which the Government of the Shereef far more than 

 that of the Turks meets the advances of foreigners. A 

 little incident that took place last Christmas may not 

 seem important at first sight, but is really a sign of the 

 times. There were two English gunboats in the harbour, 

 and a Christmas dinner in the English house, after which 

 the whole company marched down in order to the quay, 



