Page 263 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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with the possibility of another ‘200 yards from the hillside. The expense incurred
m building this rifle range was groat owing to cost of transport and the distance
from the sea. It cost Us. 8,000. It will only be used occasionally by the Police
for machine-gun practice as the old range is more suitable and convenient for
the daily rifle shooting. This expenditure may be considered as part of the
expenditure on defence measures.
B. Jida Island. Jida Island, a rocky island about three miles south-west
of Budeya, has been converted into a penitentiary for long term prisoners. An
artesian well was drilled and ground has been put under cultivation. A pier was
constructed, reaching deep water; also accomodation for the police guards and
prisoners. Overhanging rock was utilised in building the prison so that one side
and the roof are of natural rock. A square two-Btoried watch tower, which is now
being used as a store, was built on the high cliffs at one end of the island.
Jida contains what is probably one of the oldest known inscriptions in
Bahrain. It is in Arabic writing, carved on the face of one of the rocks, and
commemorates the cutting of a thousand stones about five hundred years ago. In
those days this island was used as a stone quarry and most of the stone in the
Portuguese Fort was cut at Jida.
C. Idari Spring. The sides of Idari spring, which have been leaking in I
many directions, were repaired and cemented in order to preserve the water and also
to improve the amenities of the pool, which is thronged with people during the
summer. A small pavilion was built on the edge of the pool, providing shade, and
a flat roof for use at night. A temporary coffee shop was put up during the hot
weather, and as the experiment proved a success a permanent building is contem­
plated which will be in keeping with the surroundings. This place, in the summer,
might be described as Bahrain’s Lido.
D. Hedd Girls’ School. Extensive repairs and alterations were carried out
in a house in Hedd, which has been taken on a long lease as a Girls’ school. The
building, like all old fashioned local houses, contained a number of dark unventilated
rooms which had to be provided with doors and windows. The floors, previously
of mud, were cemented and walls and roofs were repairod.
E. Om Ashaoom Spring. The spring was repaired and the sides cemented
and the roads leading to it were repaired and bridges constructed so that it can now
be readied by car from several directions.
General.

New Appointments. Captain A. C. Byard, m.b.e., was appointed as Assistant
Adviser, and commenced duty on 1st R/Thani 1358 (21st May, 1939).
Mr. C. R. L. Adrian-Vallance, m.a., l.l.b , Cantab., was appointed Director
of Education and commenced duty on 16th Shawal, 1358 (17th November, 1939).
Local Newspaper and Cinema. An Arabic weekly newspaper was started at
the beginning of 1358, edited by Abdulla bin Ali A1 Zaid, a Bahrain Arab, brother-
in-law of Shaikh Moharaed bin Isa al-Khalifah. At the end of the year its
circulation was about 800 copies, including subscribers in other parts of the Gulf.
This is the first and only newspaper published in the Persian Gulf. The Govern­
ment has made use of it by publishing in it all public proclamations and by various
“inspired” articles on Education, anti-malaria measures, eto., etc.
Towards tho end of the year the local Cinema arranged to show the nows reels
which were shown at the Bapco cinema, The cinema audiences inoreased
immediately and many people, especially Arabs, took to patronising the cinema only
in order to see the news reels, walking out at the beginning of the big film.
H. H.*. Vi.it to India. HiB Highness Shaikh Hamad spent about 6 weeks at
Simla during the summer. He returned just after war had been deolared. His
Highness was received by H.E. the Viceroy and met various prominent people at