Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎163v] (327/802)

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174. Princess Nigadama de Torhout (variant, Nirgidma of the Torgots), a
Mongolian lady, who has lived in Peking and Paris, arrived in Jedda on the
26th May as an envoyee speciale of the Paris Journal. She stayed at the local
hotel but only until the 29th May when she left again for Suez. This lady was
brought to the notice of Mr. Calvert in England last March by the secretary of
the Royal Central Asian Society. She did not, however, call at the Legation.
175. Poets who write up May should be sent to do time in Jedda. This
habitually unpleasant month surpassed itself in unpleasantness this year. Spells
of great heat and humidity were punctuated by frequent bursts of simoon, hotter
though less humid. The insect life was on the wing. The proceedings were varied
on the 8th, 11th and 21st May, by three great storms, quite abnormal for the
time of year. They brought all the discomforts of wind, rain, thunder and
lightning but very little after-refreshment. One of them rounded off the Jubilee
party for children on the 8th May.
176. Practically all this year’s pilgrims from overseas had left Jedda by
the end of May. The Legation had to repatriate as destitutes 512 Indians during
the month.
177. The position as regards the manumission of slaves by the British
Legation was as follows :—
On hand at the beginning of the month : 1 male.
Took refuge in May : 4 males.
Manumitted and repatriated : 4 males.
Locally manumitted : Nil.
Left voluntarily : 1 male.
On hand at the end of the month : Nil.
178. One of the slaves who took refuge had fled from the household of
the King’s brother Abdullah. In view of the precedent recorded in paragraph 136
of the last report, the usual procedure was followed. On the present occasion
Sheikh Yusuf Yasin made a half-hearted attempt to bounce Sir Andrew Ryan out
of repatriating the slave, but it was successfully resisted.
179. The ex-slave mentioned in paragraph 73 of the report for February
gave birth to a little sherif on the 19th May, 1935. Mother and child are doing
well. It is only fair to say that the former owner kept his bargain handsomely,
and it is hoped that he will look after the woman as well as the baby.