File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎172v] (349/898)

knowledge of military matters, but knows nothing of road making. Raghama,
where the roller is now working, is 8 miles from Jeddah, the nearest point from
which water is obtainablej there are three small water-carts (tanks mounted on Ford
chassis), but the supply so transported falls far short of requirements.
6. The Italian consul, finding that the negotiations which he has been
conducting by correspondence with Ibn Saud relative to Italian recognition are
leading to no useful result, has suggested to his Government that he should awaij
the return of the King to the Hejaz before making any further proposals. I gather
that my colleague has been authorised to offer recognition to Ibn baud as King of
the Hejaz, Nejd and their Dependencies, Asir not to be mentioned specifically, but
a separate unpublished note to be addressed to Ibn Saud stating that Italy has no
knowledge of the Treaty of Mecca. A simple acknowledgment of this letter would
satisfy the Italians. Ibn Saud, however, wished to be recognised by Italy as other
Powers have recognised him, namely, as King of the Hejaz, Nejd and their
Dependencies. The Italians may make what mental reservations they wish, but he,
Ibn Saud, cannot take cognisance of the reservations. Were he to do so, he would
be weakening his position in Asir vis-a-vis the Imam. It is difficult at present to
conceive of a formula satisfactory to Ibn Saud and the Italian Government which
does not at the same time offend the Imam, though Dr. Cesano still hopes that in
private conversation with the King he will succeed where correspondence has failed.
7. The new coins struck by the mint, Birmingham, are now in circulation.
They are to be known as “Arab ” dollars, half-dollars, quarter-dollars and piastres.
The^£ sterling remains the basis of exchange, which is fixed at 10 dollars or
220 piastres to the £. The coins are not inartistic. If they are circulated in
sufficient numbers to meet local requirements during the pilgrimage season, exchange
should remain more stable than in previous years, vchen a shortage has regularly
resulted in an appreciable rise in the exchange value of the silver currency.
8. There is, with the increase of commercial activity consequent on the greater
influx of pilgrims, a growing need for properly established courts of justice.
At present the only courts in existence are the Shariah Courts, which administer
justice based on the precepts of the Koran. There is naturally no provision for the
settlement of questions relating to goods on consignment, drafts, bills and indeed
any normal modern commercial operations. Many such operations are, in fact,
definitely illegal by Shariah law. Certain cases can, it is true, at the demand of both
parties be settled by the Mejlis-ul-Tujjar, but there is often one party which sees
advantage in obtaining a judgment in the Shariah Court. Moreover, the decision
of the Mejlis-ul-Tuj jar is not final—appeal to the Shariah Court at Mecca is possible
to either party, and the case is once again tried by religious law. If there are no
law courts, there are no lawyers, and consequently little litigation. Cases between
Europeans or foreign-protected persons are- almost invariably settled by arbitration
by the respective consuls of the parties concerned.
9. Another result of the increased commercial activity in the Hejaz is the
pressing need for new houses. Rents are being raised annually, but are still not
sufficiently high to induce local capitalists to build. The population of Jeddah is
increasing rapidly, but there is practically no room within the city walls for
expansion. If security continues a time will soon come when a new residential
quarter must be started outside the city walls.
10. The pilgrimage season may’ now be said to have started. More than
30,000 pilgrims have already arrived from overseas, mostly from Batavia and
Singapore. Four Indian pilgrim ships have already arrived, bringing 1,272 pilgrims;
two more are expected in the first days of February. It is generally hoped that the
pilgrimage from India will be slightly larger than last year; this increase will,
however, be discounted by a falling off in the number of Malays. There is as yet
no indication of the numbers likely to proceed from Persia or North Africa. The
total pilgrimage from overseas is expected to reach 150,000, an increase of some
10 per cent, on last year’s total.
11. Cars are being introduced in such numbers that the Government has
decided to limit the import. All cars already on order may be imported, but
thereafter every fresh order must first be officially sanctioned and an import licence
obtained. This new restriction is introduced ostensibly in the interests of all car
owners. There are already some 500 cars registered for the pilgrimage traffic.
Competition is so strong that cars are in most cases running at a loss. The Govern
ment rate for the return journey—Jeddah-Medina—is £15, of which £6 represents
Government tax. Owners are accepting as low a fare as £10. The Government has
raised the tax on camel hire without raising the fares themselves. Fodder has