Page 89 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

86

1926

& some police, & arrested & searched the house of an old man who is supposed to have written anonymous letters
against the Government. Then changed hurriedly & to supper with the Sheikh, also present M, Daly, Horner & the two
captains of the cruisers. A most excellent Arab meal, the usual two whole sheep, all seated on the floor. We supped on
the house top by moonlight, very well done. One of the Captains had never been to a real Arab meal before both were
much impressed. There is a constant interchange of violent & aggressive cables between here, the Navy & Bushire.

Wednesday 18th [August]

Didnt go to the office for once in a way before breakfast. Horner finished the shooting case in the morning, one man
got deportation for life, to the Andaman Islands, the other 10 years hard labour, both sent back to the Man of War.
Went down in the morning & removed all papers from the shop of the man who is supposed to be author of anonymous
letters to Daly & others. Two of the missionaries watched the proceedings with great interest peeping curiously round
corners in the bazaar. Spent the morning going over a great box of papers & in the afternoon Horner took the case. I
prosecuted. I myself have doubts as to whether he was guilty - however Horner found him guilty & gave him 9 years
banishment from Bahrain. He was supposed to have written letters abusing Daly, the Govt, & all the pro government
people in the place, being a great friend of the Quadi the case will cause a lot of feeling. Horner went off after dinner
to the mail as the boat was to sail at midnight. Motored him down to the Customs. He's really not such a bad fellow
but has a tiresome manner. Went up to Fort. Found our house in a filthy mess so removed a lot of our belongings.
One does expect a Naval Officer to keep things clean, at least. Really very annoying. "The Navy" came ashore in the
afternoon.