File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎220v] (445/898)

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Communists and the Dutch Legation in Egypt.' It said that the Dutch
Legation over a year ago wrote a report, since proved to be true, to the effect
that the members of the Bolshevik Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Jeddah are working to spread the
spirit of communism among Moslem pilgrims and are distributing revolutionary
literature among them.
“ As such news is untrue, and as the Hejaz Government is satished that J
such (Bolshevik) activities exist in all the Hejaz, the Hejaz Government wrote
to the Dutch Government through the Dutch consul in Jeddah requesting that
enquiries be made into the source of this false rumour.
“ The reply of the Dutch consul has now been received, after proper
investigation. He denies the whole matter, and states that neither the Dutch
Legation in Egypt nor any member of its staff has made a report in that sense.
“ The news, therefore, is quite false.”
The notification appears at first sight to be a kindly pat on the back for the Soviet
agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Jeddah. But it has other interpretations. It can also be read as a
warning to the Russians, and as a reassurance to the different Powers whose nationals
visit the Hejaz for the pilgrimage.
17. A number of improvements in pilgrim arrangements have been decided
upon, and will be found in an appendix. They are intended to ameliorate conditions
at Arafat, the goal of the Haj, and at Muna, where sacrificial ceremonies and the
symbolical stoning of the Devil take place. They are consequent on the criticisms
heard at the Islamic Conference in Mecca last year. It will remain to be seen
whether they are put into effect. However, as a committee has been appointed and
money set aside for the purpose, it looks as though something is now being done.
18. The pilgrim road between Jeddah and Mecca has hitherto sufficed for both
animal and mechanical transport. But motor conveyance has developed to such an
extent that the Hejaz Government has decided to separate the two, and has marked
I out an alternative route to Mecca for motor vehicles, leaving the old broad, beaten
| track to camel caravans, ambling mules and striding pedestrians. So Kipling was
right in the tag, and never the twain shall meet. Along the new route will ply many
types of motor conveyances, but chiefly touring cars of the Ford, Chevrolet and Fiat
order, and a considerable number of motor lorries, converted to carry fifteen to a
dozen passengers. The aristocrat of the last-named class is a new twenty-five
passenger charabanc, a Spa, imported for the use of the King’s entourage. It is
intended to send this latest product of civilisation to Riyadh in the near future. If
it gets there and back safely, and proves its worth on a sandy track, the next few
years may see Javanese pilgrims touring to Mecca as comfortably as, for 5s. 6d. from
Southampton Row, the stereotyped American sees the sights of London. Motor
conveyance between Jeddah and the Lloly City (which the cars do not enter), is now
definitely established. There would probably be a similar limited development
between Jeddah, Medina and Mecca, if it were not for the lack of halting-places
en route and the hostility of the Bedouin population to the new form of transport,
which threatens their camels and their livelihood.'
19. A wireless station has been opened at Rabigh, and private messages for
that port will now be accepted.
20. The pilgrimage promises well. Forty thousand pilgrims have now arrived
by sea in the Hejaz.
21. As is usual at this season, although usury is expressly forbidden in the
Koran, inhabitants in and visitors to the Hejaz are being regularly fleeced of
u per cent, of their cash over the exchange. The Government rate for sterling is
224 Nejd-Hejaz piastres; but the great demand for small change at this time is the
opportunity of the local money changers—all Moslems—who refuse to part with the
silver and nickel they have cornered-at more than 212. The authorities have drastic
fines imposable for this contravention of their edict, but they are ineffective, The
changers merely decline to change at the official rate. Some day a Bank of the Hejaz
will become a necessity. It could do business in pilgrims’ drafts and money orders,
and would be useful to the Government for the transmission of remittances, for posts
and telegraph remittances to foreign administrations, for example.
22. F ive slaves have been assisted to return to Africa during February.
NORMAN MAYERS.
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