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to the poor state of the roads themselves and defects in the supply and the con
dition of motor transport. These unsatisfactory conditions were aggravated by
heavy floods on the Medina road, in which eight British pilgrims lost their lives.
At the end of the year an Egyptian road engineer had arrived under the auspices
of the Banque Misr, and was reported to have begun work, in collaboration with
a special Roads Commission appointed by the Saudi Government.
175. Ihe official pilgrim tariff for the 1937 Haj, which was published in
the autumn, showed some small increases. The reduction of 25 per cent, on
transport charges introduced the year before (see paragraph 222 of the 1935
report) was maintained, but a road tax, designed to provide funds for work of
road construction was a new feature. At the end of 1936 pilgrims arriving for
the oncoming Haj encountered difficulties in the Customs Department at Jedda,
with the result that the Saudi authorities liberalised the customs regulations
applicable to pilgrims.
1^6. The change imported into article 4 of the Treaty of Jedda, in respect
of the disposal of the effects of deceased Indian pilgrims, has been mentioned at
paragraph 153 above.
177- Little improvement can be recorded in the behaviour of mutawwifs, or
guides, of whose conduct complaints have been numerous and sometimes serious.
Ihe black list has been maintained, but, perhaps because of the close connexion
between one of the principal offenders and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has
met with increasing opposition from the Saudi authorities, who have shown a
disposition to contest the right of the Legation to concern itself with British
pilgrims in the Hejaz, as being in their view a relic of the capitulatory regime.
178 Strict rules were adopted early in 1936 to prevent occidentals pro
fessing Islam from going to Mecca without satisfying the authorities that they
had been practising Moslems for a stated period. These rules were modified by
Ibn Saud himself, and it was proposed for the future to require such pilgrims to
spend three months in Jedda under the tutelage of a religious committee An
American woman was refused permission, but an Islamised Briton, a Hungarian
and a Pole all performed the pilgrimage.
179. The number of destitutes from India unfortunately showed an increase
during the 1936 pilgrimage season, no less than 617 out of 662 coming overland
from Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports. Saudi measures, and measures taken in India by the
authorities there, to restrict this movement may have had some success later in
the year, for towards the end of 1936, hardly any destitutes had arrived in Mecca
for the 1937 Haj.
XI.— Slavery.
180. The main provisions of the Saudi Slavery Regulations, which were
issued on the 2nd October, 1936 (see paragraph 59 above), are as follows :
Article 1 prohibits the importation of slaves by sea; the importation by
^ an y slave, unless proof is produced that he was a slave in the country
of export on the 2nd October, 1936; the enslavement of a free person in Saudi
Arabia, and the acquisition, by purchase or otherwise, of any person covered
by these prohibitions.
Articles 2 and 3 are designed to ensure that slaves shall be properlv
treated. r r j
Articles 5 and 6 prohibit the separation of mothers from their minor
children, and, subject to certain conditions, of husband and wife.
Article 7 lays down the procedure by which a slave can purchase his
freedom.
Article 8 allows any freed slave who was not born in Saudi Arabia to
choose his place of residence.
Articles 9 and 10. All slaves to be registered within one year, and any
slave not registered by then may demand a certificate of manumission
Article 12. Only licensed agents and brokers may deal in slaves.
Articles 13 and 14. Inspector of Slave Affairs and, if necessary, a
deputy inspector, to be appointed. The registration authorities to furnish
six-monthly reports.