'File 61/13 I (D 133) Wahabis and Pilgrimage to Hedjaz' [‎93r] (197/431)

wmmm
, s
! ^
ft
25
that the passes had been lost, and the mutawwifs' agents, in their turn affixed
to the certificates the necessary endorsement to the effect that nothinp- was due
bv the holders. ^
Reform Proposals.
i i +T1? 6 tl Ues ^ 0I l T o ^. re ^ rm i n g the mutawwif system was one of those
debated at the Hejazi -National Conference (see paragraph 1). The discussion
would appeal to have been heated, some accusing the mutawwifs of bringing;
the Government into discredit by maligning it to pilgrims, of inducing the latter
to address complaints to their national representatives, and of getting money out
of the tender-hearfed b;y pretending that they w T ere themselves squeezed, while
others declared that it was the inhabitants of Mecca, not the mutawwifs who
poisoned tne pilgrims minds. One sensible suggestion emerged from the
discussion, namely, that the Government should find some means of collecting
taxes other than that oi using the mutawwifs as middle-men. The whole subiect
was reserved for further consideration, and no change has been made in the
system so far The King, however, judging by his published utterances at the
conterence and by what is otherwise known of his attitude, would appear to be
fully aware of the corruption prevailing and the need for reform. Before leavm 0 "
for Riadh in June he took the definite step of dismissing the Sheikh Al-Mutaw-
wifin, the head sheikh of all mutawwifs m Mecca other than those responsible
for Dutch East Indian pilgrims. Unfortunately the new incumbent is unfamiliar
with an} Indian language, and therefore ill-qualified for work which lar^elv
concerns Indian pilgrims. The British Indian vice-consul considers that there
should be a separate sheikh for the Indian pilgrimage as there is for the Dutch
East Indians, just as there is a separate naqib, or headman, of the mutawwifs'
agents dealing with Indian pilgrims in Jedda. Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. Ihsanullah has greatly
exerted himself to promote reform on sound lines. In view of the obvious
difficulties of official intervention in a matter so delicate, he has done his best
to enlist the support and sympathy of distinguished foreign pilgrims and others
standing well with Ibn Sand, urging the advantages which the" Hejazi Govern
ment would derive from a healthy reorganisation from the point of view both of
their credit with the Moslem world and their finance. He pays special tribute
to the assistance rendered this year by Moulvi Ismail Ghuznavi (see para
graph 14), though the departure of the King for Riadh and that of Ismail
Ghuznavi for India supervened before anything concrete could be accomplished.
106. In this connexion it may be observed that the Hejazi Government,
though so slow to put their house in order, are as sensitive as ever as regards
foreign intervention, and too often present the appearance of upholding the
mutawwifs. &c., whose interest it is to make themselves independent of such
control as diplomatic and consular representatives can directly or indirectly
exercise. His Majesty's Minister, while careful to respect religious suscepti
bilities, has consistently held that the British pilgrim is a British traveller, the
special object of whose journey does not deprive him of the right to the protection
and assistance of British officials in matters affecting his temporal interests.
Impoverished Pilgrims and Mutawwifs.
107. A good many Indian pilgrims, some 200, had difficulty in leaving
Jedda after the pilgrimage owing to their inability to pay off their mutawwifs,
who had the whip-hand of them owing to the operation of the new regulations
described in.paragraphs 102 and 103. His Majesty's Minister, feeling strongly
that if on the one hand mutawwifs need to be strictly controlled, they should
nevertheless get their legal dues, was loath to intervene officially, but after
satisfying himself that the pilgrims in question, though provided with return
passages, were without other resources, he made an unofficial appeal ad
misencordiam through the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs. This, coupled
with the efforts of the Indian vice-consul, assisted again by Moulvi Ismail
Ghuznavi, led to the demands of the mutawwifs being waived. It is fair to say
that, though there was a good deal of official obstruction before the pilgrims were
allowed to go, the King showed generosity in the matter, and a direct representa
tion by Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. Ihsanullah to the Director-General of Finance (a personage
whom the Legation seldom has occasion to praise) contributed materially to the
happy ending.
[6274] e
•k
i i
; I
l\h