'File No. II/8 Foreign Dept Memoranda of Information re. affairs in Turkish Arabia. Nov '07 --' [‎28v] (56/110)

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he will proceed southwards and examine the
mineral wealth of the country traversed by
the Hedjaz line.
In regard to the progress of the
Railway, the Consul at Jeddah reported
to His Majesty’s Ambassador at Cons
tantinople on the 3rd February that work
was being done from Medina (where the
foundation stone of a station had been laid
with much ceremony on the 6th October
1907), as well as from the present rail-head
about 100 miles from that town, and that the
railway was expected to be completed to
Medina by next autumn. It appears to have
been decided to prolong the railway from
Medina to Mecca via Rabigh and Jeddah,
which route is not only free from serious
engineering difficulties, but is well supplied
with water; whereas the eastern or highland
route from Medina to Mecca, also free from
serious engineering difficulties, lacks water.
The Consul’s report shows that the Govern
ment are already making arrangements for
steamers to bring railway material to Rabigh,
where a pier is, it is said, to be built. The
Sheikh of Rabigh is reported to he in favour
of the railway project, as Rabigh and his
small tribe, which is in its vicinity, would
benefit from the increased importance of that
town and district.
60. {Vide para. 204, November 1907.)
Piracy on the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. witl ‘ reference to the
“Johara” between proceedings of the
Mokha and Hodeida. mixed commission ap
pointed to enquire into the “ Johara ” piracy
case, His Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Hodeida,
on the 17th February, reported that he had
repeatedly urged the Acting Governor-General
of the Yemen to arrange for the payment
of the compensation awarded by the com
mission to the British subjects concerned for
the looting of their property, but that His
Excellency had failed so far to elicit the
formal sanction of the Sublime Porte, or even
a reply on the subject. The Vice-Consul
added that he was telegraphing to the British
Embassy at Constantinople to press for the
payment of the amount.
61. {Vide para. 6, January 1908.)
Appointment of a Vice- Mr. Wilkie A oung, the
Consul at Mosul. newly-appointed Vice-
Consul for Mosul, arrived at his post on the
18th March.
62. Mr. Cree of the firm of Messrs.
Consul for Norway at Blockey Cree & Co.
Baghdad. has been appointed
Consul for Norway at Baghdad.