Page 276 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

There is a report of a new murder at Rafaa by the divorced wife of the Shaikh's brother. An Arab girl started playing up with
the men & eventually captured the affection of Rashid bin Mohamed. His wife objected & complained to his mother. The old
lady gave a picnic, invited the girl & about 20 others at a spring then, it is said, ordered two of her slave women to drown the
girl. They did so. I got the girls brother but he didnt seem to know much about the show. Tennis at Mission, intended going
out to the Fort but eventually decided not to. Alban went.

Tuesday [16 August]

Biladya meeting. The question of came up again & as usual various people said that they were immoral. Its absurd.
They are allowed in private houses but forbidden in coffee shops.

Alban suddenly started on the subject of appointing a new secretary, I didnt know he was going to mention it, it was premature
& a lot of the members objected. Interviewed some Baharnis who were ordered some years ago by the Shaikh to take blood
money for two men, relations, murdered by some of the Shaikhs, they refused, & have continued to refuse to take it. I quite
sympathised with them. The case was badly judged & wouldn't stand for a moment in any court of law. The finding did not
say that the accused were guilty but only the amount of the blood money to be paid. In the afternoon Kerr & I went over to