ملف ١٩٢٤/١٧٠٧ "الجزيره العربية - تقارير عن الوضع في جدة. (١٩٢٤-١٩٣٠)" [ظ‎‎١‎٨‎٦] (٨٩٨/٣٧٧)

I
is plenteous in the Hejaz, but whether the money will ever be forthcoming for the
systematic road construction and maintenance which alone can justify the purchase
of steam rollers is a matter of considerable speculation.
27. Indeed the general question of transport may achieve critical importance
during the coming season. I have already referred to the anxiety that the camels
may die through the drought. Another danger awaits their survival in the
ever-increasing competition of the motor car. The position is a difficult om f
Ibn Saud himself has a great passion for motor cars and is sufficiently modern to
buy them when he has no money to pay for them. He himself iff interested in a new
company formed to run a fleet of cars between Jeddah and Mecca.
28. That the local Hejazis realise what a boon is motor transport to many
classes of pilgrims and that they regard it as one of their best advertisements is
clear from the confident way in which orders for cars are being placed. On the
other hand, the position of the camel driver, who sees his livelihood steadily and
securely snatched from him, must by no means be ignored. A little Wahabi fanaticism
working on his uncouth nature might well produce incidents on the Mecca Road next
summer of the gravest import to the existing regime.
29. The Government has now definitely placed in London an order for
ammunition amounting to several thousands of pounds. This I gather is entirely a
credit transaction, and for that reason is not likely to be followed by an order
for arms.
30. A new silver coinage to accompany the current golden sovereign and to
displace the old Turkish mejidieh has been ordered. Thus gradually every trace of
former Turkish domination is being effaced and soon a little pleasing architectural
ornament will be the sole reminder of gentle Johnny.
31. During the period the 28th September to the 31st October, two slaves have
been repatriated by this agency.
Appendix.
Taxes to be Collected from Pilgrims for 1346.
In and out quarantine dues, in and out passport fees and
inspection commission fee at Jeddah
Sambuk hire : Outside the harbour
Sambuk hire : Middle harbour ...
Sambuk hire : Inside the harbour
Compensation to Jeddah mutawwif agent
Porterage from sambuk to house
House rent for three nights (over that Pt. Tk. 1^ per night)
Baladieh tax on each shuqduf ...
Official agent and assistant
Porterage on luggage from sambuk to quay
Sambuk hire to the island for three days (above that Pt. Tk. 2^
to be charged per head daily)
Porterage from house to sambuk on return
Jeddah agent’s fee
House rent for three nights (over that Pt. Tk. 1^ per night)
Amount payable by each Java pilgrim, being house rent,
food supplied in Mecca, Arafat, Mina, compensation to
his sheikh and numbering charges
Compensation for the mutawwif of Indian and Bengali
pilgrims ...
House rent
Gratuity to zamzam water supplier
Hire of tent during Haj days ...
Gratuity to mutawwif for each Egyptian pilgrim (house rent
excluded)
Gratuity to mutawwif for each Syrian and Algerian pilgrim
(house rent excluded)
Pt. 106
Pt. Tk. 10
7 1
' 2
5
20
5
2
2
0-20
14
3
5
Rs. 15
Pt. Tk. 120
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