Page 446 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

about Shia wakfs, they really dont interest him at all. He agreed that neither of the two were to be President. Office all
the morning. Medani came in the afternoon and I had two hours with him, then went over to the Agency. Busy day.
Raging wind all day.

Monday 3rd June 1929

Very stormy day, raging wind and no unloading being done from the boat. Had a long spell of al Medani. He handed
over all the books of the Wakfs which were in very good order and well kept. I am rather sorry for him. The King's
Birthday. The Shaikh sent to say he was coming in before going to the Agency, but didnt. Old Shaikh Isa came over
from Muharrak in a sailing boat, it was too stormy for launches. It was not thought that he would come but he is very
obstinate and hates to be thought decripid. Haji Seggar told me that some time ago he was out hunting, riding on a
donkey in the sun and one of his relations offered him an umbrella at which he was furiously angry, threw it at the
fellow and said he didnt need umbrellas, an Arab etc etc. Shaikh Hamed never stirs out in the sun without an umbrella.
He is less of a man than old Isa. The usual show at the Agency, the schools, all the local and foreign merchants and
notables. The Shaikh came in on his way back. Al Medani had asked to see him and was waiting, I went down to meet
the Shaikh and, as usual, sat in his car outside with him talking about various things, I told him al Medani wanted to
see him so he hurriedly said was it not very late, would it not be better if I said that it was too late for the Shaikh to see
anyone, all because he didnt want to face him having completly gone back on his promise that he should remain in
charge of wakfs. Eventually he came up and talked so hard for two minutes that al Medani never got a word in, then he
edged to the door and suddenly said good bye and literally hurried down stairs. He is good at getting out of awkward
situations. Went over to the Agency later on, Prior does things much better than the Barretts did, champagne cup and
pate de fois gras and other sandwiches. Meeting of the Wakf Committee in the afternoon. It went off very well and
there was no trouble about it. Dined at the Agency and played pontoon after dinner. A wonderfully good dinner. Very
pleasant evening.

Tuesday [4 June]

Manama Biladya meeting. Rather a noisy one. Began going over the bye laws and Kozaibi objected to most of them.
His manners are atrocious and he is a great nuisance. Went to call on the Kadi Shaikh Abdulla after the meeting with
Abdu Ali to smooth him down about the wakfs. He didnt seem to need much smoothing down. Had some very nasty
stuff to drink. Intended going to Muharrak but still so very stormy that I didnt. Went along to D.G. and we went out in
the car. Sh Abdulla came in the evening and I took him over to call on Prior. These clerics are so frightened of being
seen too much in the houses of infidels that they prefer to call at night, rather as though the Pope called on the King of
Italy. He is quite a pleasant little man and one of the most intelligent Bahranis who I have met. He likes me and really
appreciates that I help them and nobody else would or could. He is absurdly young to be a religious leader. The
sentries at the house kissed his hand when they saw him.

Wednesday [5 June]

Yesterday Prior went out to the Shaikh and talked to him about the Khalids and his other relations who are accused of
being in the various murders. He agreed to send them all to the Shera Court to be tried. Of course they will get off but
its a good thing to have them tried to let the public see that they can be tried like ordinary people. Court in the