206	ARABIA  INFELIX
they have governed consecutively for the  last forty years.
There used to be an idea in certain quarters that we would back Turkey in any case owing to our relations with Moslem India. This idea is reduced to an absurdity in connection with Arabia, for who would support her in troubles of her own creation with oriental Moslems to retain the loyalty of other oriental Moslems ?
There is a marked tendency throughout Turkish
Arabia to revert to patriarchal or tribal rule, with or
without some central authority. The Emir of Nejd
thinks he can take advantage of this tendency, and is—
from his position and prestige—the man to do it if
anyone can.	_t
We, with our interest on the shores of the Persian and Aden Gulfs and along the valleys of the Euphrates and Tigris, would do well to watch events. Most great Moslem movements have taken us by surprise for, though we have a vast amount of Mohamedan fellow-subjects, we seldom get into close touch with them.
All the Aden authorities know of their hinterland is contained in a few office files or filters through tortuous native channels. It is now a recognized feature of Imperial policy to let sleeping dogs lie, and if they are not sleeping to pretend that they are or at least not attempt to find out for ourselves.
Our position at Aden is that of a man, who does not know much about horses, riding behind a friend whose mount has its ears back. He hopes his friend will come to no harm, but is still more anxious not to stop a kick himself, and has the vaguest idea as to what he ought to do if both nags get restive.