Page 90 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1926

Thursday 19th August

Walked to the office. Still very cool & lovely weather though a shade too windy. Court after breakfast. A great many
cases, it lasted from 10 till nearly 2 & even then I had to leave over a number of cases. Had a long sleep after lunch.
Motored with M in the evening out to Essex point & then up past the Fort & back. Captain Parry came ashore but left
before dinner. Early to bed after talking an hour to Daly in his office. He really is very obstinate & determined to
make the most of the show, seems to regard every native as a potential criminal. There is an epidemic of anonymous
letters about mostly directed against people who support the Government. The idea is now to deport all the Baluchi
police & Levy Corps - goodness knows what they will be substituted by. Evidently Parkes arrival will be greatly
delayed, which is annoying. The bluejackets on guard - quite unnecessarily - at the Agency again let off a shot by
accident! They are a poor example for our native police & Levies - their drill is deplorably bad & they seem to do
nothing but sleep & eat.

Friday August 20th

Spent most of the morning writing up this diary & reading. Very cool & pleasant weather. In the afternoon the usual
tennis party, quite a lot of the navy & the usual missionaries & oddments. Had two quite good setts. No particular
news. The navy were not impressed by the company - & no wonder, de Grenier was particularly obnoxious & oily.
Daly on these occasions does little towards the entertainment & rather shows how bored he is by the people.