Page 402 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

The Persians have written to protest against the Shaikh objecting to the Persian schools marching
about like soldiers and carrying flags etc. Went down to the Sunni school with Shaikh Abdulla and sat there for
some time. The small boys sung and recited, some of them recited silly English poems and speeches which I am
sure they didnt understand a word of. Had a talk with Abdulla, he said that the Shaikh would like to close down
the Persian schools if he could get a letter from Barrett guaranteeing that the British Govt would approve of his
doing so.

The Shaikh looked very smart today in a handsome bisht black embroidered with gold. These shaikhs
certainly do dress well. Went out for a walk in the afternoon and had a look at the building of the Shia school. It is
getting on well. Parke came in to tea. He got very agitated at the idea of shutting down the Persian schools and
seemed to think that it would cause Persia to go to war with us which might affect the income tax. Went over to the
Agency before dinner. Barrett told the Shaikh that men had given evidence that Shaikh Abdulla (his brother) had
instigated the attempt against his life. The Shaikh said he couldnt believe it as he had always been so good to him.

Sunday 13th Jan 1928 [1929]

Went to see the new Shia school in its temporary quarters after breakfast. They are in a building at the back of
Mespers. There are about a hundred boys, rather a handful for the one master with one local assistant. They sung a
great deal and made some speeches. Afterwards I had a long talk with the master and some members of the committee.
They have got sort of uniforms for the boys, very ugly, sort of short black norfolk coats and trousers and yellow head
cloths and black head bands. The uniform looks quite neat but very ugly. The parents seem very pleased with it which
surprised me. The master is very young but seems keen, he was beautifully dressed and wore gray spats. Afterwards
saw a lot of people in the office. In the morning had a talk to the members of the Diving Court about a letter from the
Agency on the subject of diving rules and an agreement between Bahrain and the Ruler of Kattar on the mainland.
Went out in the afternoon taking Mohamed Khalil and saw a garden over which there was a right of way dispute and
also visited the Shia School at Suk al Khamis. There are 26 boys there, mostly quite small. They have been there for
about three months. They have learnt quite a lot and did quite complicated sums. Both these schools were started by
me and would certainly never have been started by anyone else as the Shaikhs have no sympathy with the Shia
inhabitants of Bahrain. Cold day with a shamaal blowing. Hope it wont be rough when I go out with the Shaikh
tomorrow to the man of war. I do so dislike the idea of Dickson coming here.

Monday 14th Jan.

The Shaikh came in in the morning to meet the Resident who was supposed to be arriving at 10 oclock, but as usual a
message came at the last moment saying that he would be late and instead of coming ashore at noon he would wait till
after lunch. Went over to the Agency with the Shaikh in the morning. The Shaikh spoke of the evidence against his
brother Abdulla of trying to assasinate him two years ago. He led me aside when Barrett was out of the room and said
that he didnt know whether it was true or untrue but he wanted me never to tell anyone about it. He is evidently very
troubled about it. I am sorry for him, it must be horrid to suspect that his own brother, but by a different mother, tried
to assasinate him and according to the evidence was actually present when the shooting took place. The Shaikh went
back to the Palace for lunch. I went down to the Customs. There were big crowds and all the Army drawn up as a
guard of honour, the Indian Police, the Arabs and the naturs. They made a very fine show. The Shaikh arrived and I
went out with him and his sons Sulman and Mubarak to the boat. It was very rough and the launch bounced about a