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on the whole satisfactorily, although much resentment was aroused by a decision
to detain the general run of pilgrims at Mecca for some days until those intending
to go to Medina had got away. This was attributed to a desire on the part of
the Government to make sure of the revenue accruing from the pilgrimage to
Medina. The koshan, or road tax, on those proceeding to that place by hired
transport is very heavy, and it was suggested that the Government wished to.^
reduce the possibility of pilgrims, who might intend to go to Medina, getting 1
as far as Jedda with the rank and file and then abandoning their intention.
168. It would take too long to deal in this report with other features of the
1930 pilgrimage, but two or three are worth mentioning.
169. There was no Sacred Caravan from Egypt (see paragraph 86), but the
medical mission which is sent annually from that country was accorded greater
facilities than it had enjoyed in 1929. Any good effect resulting from this on
the relations between Egypt and Hejaz-Nejd was offset by the resentment caused
in the Hejaz by the decision of the Alexandria Quarantine Board to declare the
pilgrimage infected with cholera. The following was the course of this incident,
which has been mentioned more briefly elsewhere in other connexions (see para
graphs 87 and 98). On the 14th May the Hejaz Government officially declared
the pilgrimage clean. The sanitary authorities at Tor nevertheless conceived
suspicions of the possible existence of cholera among returning pilgrims, and
on the 22nd May the Permanent Commission of the Alexandria Board declared
that the pilgrimage must be considered infected until further notice. The
suspicions at Tor do not appear to have been confirmed by the discovery of any
unmistakable case of Asiatic cholera there, hut they were grave in themselves, and
they were strengthened by the discovery of an undoubted case at Massowah on
the 27th May. In these circumstances, the decision of the board was made
definite for the rest of the season, with the quasi-political consequences noted in
paragraph 87.
170. This episode caused great inconvenience to north-bound pilgrims. It
was all the more unfortunate, however unavoidable, because every one acted in
complete good faith. The Hejazi Government had no reason to suspect the
existence of cholera, and the investigations which they made, apparently with
some care when doubt was thrown on the pilgrimage, still revealed no signs of
cholera in the Hejaz. They very foolishly imputed bad faith to other authorities,
but there is no reason to believe that they themselves concealed guilty knowledge.
The only fair criticism is that they have not brought into existence any sanitary
organisation adequate to inspire confidence in other Powers.
171. A disaster, unprecedented in the history of Jedda, though not in that
of pilgrim ships elsewhere, occurred on the evening of the 21st May. A French
steamer, the “ Asia," caught fire in the outer harbour that afternoon after loading
her full complement of some 1,500 pilgrims, mostly from the Yemen, but including
some 300 from French Somaliland. The local authorities did what they could
by turning out all the dhows and organising relief on shore, and notable assistance
worthy of the best traditions of the mercantile marine was rendered by British
ships in port; but some 115 persons lost their lives on board the “ Asia ” or by
drowning. The causes of the fire were and remain obscure. The “ Asia ” was
in any case a worn-out passenger ship, quite unsuitable for the pilgrim trade.
An enquiry, conducted incompetently by the local authorities, threw little light
on the matter.
XI. —Slavery and the Slave Trade.
172. The question of slavery in the countries bordering on the Red Sea
attracted much attention during 1930. Few problems connected with Arabia
are more baffling. The whole subject, as seen from the Hejaz, was the subject
of an able memorandum drawn up early in the year by Mr. Bond, then His
Majesty s Charge d Affaires at Jedda. 1 his paper, which was sent home on the
6th March, 1930, should be studied by anyone who wishes for further information
than can be given within the limits of this report.