'File 61/13 I (D 133) Wahabis and Pilgrimage to Hedjaz' [‎44v] (100/431)

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arrangements for issuing the kushans are entirely inadequate. The
pilgrims have to wait for long hours at the Kushan Onice, and money is
often extorted before they are allowed to take their turn. It is proposed
to take up this matter with the local authorities with a view to inducing
them to issue the kushans beforehand to the motor companies, thus
avoiding the delay caused at the Kushan Office. j j *
(4) The arrangements for the examination of cars at Jedda prior to their
departure for Medina often involved the pilgrims in considerable delays;
they were sometimes kept waiting for as long as twenty-four hours before
the final formalities were completed. The motor companies were also
guilty of delays in despatching their cars, and in many cases the inter
vention of the police had to be sought. A certain Syed Siraj Wali, who
besides being the owner of a motor company is also a mutawwif for the
Malabaris and for certain other Indian pilgrims, was one of the chief
offenders.
(5) Over-chaTging on Fares by Mutawwifs. —The local authorities were induced
to make a regulation to prevent the mutawwifs, who possessed cars for
hire, from charging the pilgrims a higher rate than that allowed by the
Government. This regulation, unfortunately, was allowed to lapse, as
is often the case with regulations in the Hejaz. Representations to the
Qaimaqam and to the police were, however, to some extent successful in
redressing grievances.
(6) Refund of return Motor-hire in respect of Pilgrims who died at Medina.-
The local Bait-el-Mal makes no attempt to collect the return half of the
motor fare of pilgrims who die at Medina when it takes over the estates
of such pilgrims. Steps are being taken with the Hejaz authorities to
protect the estates of deceased pilgrims in this respect.
3. The Saudieh Motor Company and a few influential persons, finding them
selves unable to withstand the competition of other motor companies and to make a
profit, approached the King in order to obtain the enactment of a law regulating
motor traffic. In consequence, a " Nakaba (a committee for the control of the
motor traffic) was appointed, and the motor service thus came under the direct control
of the Government. All journeys were booked through the " Nakaba," and the motor
companies could only obtain pilgrims in their turn. This put an end to the
competition prevailing, and the pilgrims had to pay maximum fares and be content
to travel by any car or lorry, good or bad, which happened to be available at the time.
To meet the expenses of the " Nakaba," a tax of 2 piastres for Mecca and 8 piastres
for Medina was imposed, per passenger, on the motor service companies.
4. The mutawwifs lost much of their brokerage through the constitution of
the "Nakaba." They were therefore anxious to abolish it. Finding no other
pretext available, they gave a religious colouring to their persuasions, and, quoting
the example of the Prophet Mohammed, urged that the Haj performed by camel
secured greater merit in the eye of God, than if performed by car. The pilgrims
were easily duped, and resumed travelling by camel in large numbers. The
diminution in the number of persons travelling in motor vehicles affected Treasury
receipts, and the Opposition party, seeing their chance, took the matter to the King,
with the result that the Royal decree establishing the " Nakaba " was, as an excep
tional measure, rescinded. The motor companies, having once more a free hand
began competition afresh, and this resulted in the motor hire falling from £15 to
£9, or even £8^ in the case of the journey to Medina, and to 125. as against £1 5s.
in the case of the journey from Jedda to Mecca. This, however, did not benefit the
pilgrims much, as they still had to pay the higher rate, the difference between the
higher rate and the reduced rate going into the pockets of their mutawwifs, who
hired cars for them at the lowest prices available. Protests made against these
malpractices on the part of the mutawwifs were effective in some, though by no means
in all, cases.
5. Another regulation affecting motor transport was the restriction imposed
by the Government on the import of motor vehicles into this country, by which no
car could be imported without the previous sanction of the Viceroy. ' This arrange
ment greatly profited those persons who had the Viceroy's ear, Messrs. Sharqieli
(Limited), among others, deriving considerable benefit. On the other hand, it
checked a disproportionate increase in the supply of cars as compared with the
demand.