Page 415 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

412

1929

Court in the morning. A lot of cases and many people whose cases were not on came and tried to get us to hear them.
De Grenier came in just at the end of the morning after the Court. It always irritates me when people come in then as
one feels tired and usually rather cross. He suggested our going out to see a beacon with him in a launch as it was a
beautiful calm day but owing to a misunderstanding about a note I wrote him he thought we didnt want to go. Drove
out to the old Portuguese Fort and sat on the shore for some time reading. It was very pleasant out there. The Fort is
an enormous place reaching all the way down to the sea, it must have been a very fine place in its day. Came back and
picked D G up and brought him back to tea. Parke came in also as usual. After dark Parke and I went over to
Muharrak and did a raid for people who were selling and brewing liquor. It was rather fun. One of the Shaikh's
personal servants showed us round. We heard afterwards that he had a grudge on certain people as one of his particular
lady friends had been going to their houses, however that didnt matter much. We went into about half a dozen houses
and in most of them we found liquor and in one place a regular brewery. There was only an old woman in the house
and she wouldnt let us in so we had to break down the door. Some of the houses were in the ladies' quarter and they
were very angry at our searching them. We collected nine prisoners and took them along with us, hurrying from house
to house in order to be there before the news spread as this happens most rapidly. On the way back when we were
almost running along herding the prisoners in front of us we ran into Shaikh Mohamed bin Isa, the Shaikh's brother
who was processing along with a lot of his followers and relations to his house from his Meglis. He looked very prim
and shocked at the sight of us. We got back at 9.30 bringing our prisoners in the launch and Parke stayed on to dinner.
Quite an amusing evening's entertainment. The prisoners were a very mixed crew, an Egyptian among them. The
liquor is stuff called arak, made of dates, it has such a strong sour smell that one can detect it a long way off, that
makes it easier to catch. Parke at first did not at all like going.

Sunday 17th Feb.

The boat came in with the Engineer from Callenders on board. He came to see me in the morning, seemed a nice little
man and very inoffensive. Had a long talk with him and arranged to send him out with one of the surveyors round the
town. Drove out in the afternoon and had a look at all the gardens, some of them are coming on very well indeed. De
G and Windle, the Engineer, came round in the evening and after they had gone I went across to the Agency to talk to
Barrett about the electric business. It is rather difficult doing any negotiations about a thing that I dont understand in
the least. The price will be just about £20,000. Sounds a lot but it is quite a big job and the engine will be strong
enough to supply Muharraq in the future if it is required over there.

Monday [18 February]

Office in the morning. I am making Ramadan an opportunity for getting through a lot of arrears of work. Had a long
time with Mohamed Khalil the head of my Land Department. He is going on six months leave. I shall miss him very
much indeed, more really than I shall miss Parke when he goes in March. I shall be very busy and very short handed
this summer which is a great nuisance. Tennis at the Mission in the afternoon. de G and Windle to dinner. He is very
quiet and a most awful Bridge player, however he said he hardly played.

Tuesday [19 February]