Page 100 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1926

Sheikh's sons near me. The people showed no signs of being impressed either one way or the other. The murderer,
somehow, looked like a dummy figure, & really there wasn't much about it. It was my idea shooting him instead of
hanging him & I'm very glad I suggested it. Tennis at Spences in afternoon & dinner at the Sheikhs which was
attended by the Barretts, Captain Tancred & Robinson, the usual meal. I get a little tired of these entertainments -
however I cant not be present. Sat next to Shaikh Sulman, the Sheikh's eldest son - a nasty little black bearded
person who I hope will be set aside when the time comes for him to succeed. Mr B made futile remarks as usual. The
Sheikh's boys were all present.

Wednesday [22 September]

Spent most of the morning at the Agency. Barrett took the case of the Mullah who was supposed to have stirred up
the Levy Corps - though I dont think he did. He ordered him to leave Bahrain which was all for the best I think. Went
to Muharraq in the afternoon to look at a tank which needed a drain making for the spare water. Sat & talked to the
notables of the place for some time & then came back, a stiff breeze so the boat went at a fine pace. The weather
now is really extremely nice indeed, no one could find any fault with it.

Thursday 23rd September

Very busy morning with quite an accumulation from yesterday to attend to. Went out in a boat in the afternoon
taking our tea with us, first to the old fort behind Muharraq & then on past several other islands to an island called
Hedd which has quite a big town on it. A really lovely day & splendid for sailing. Took with me a Sudanese
policeman, a man who was in Kenneth's company of the Camel Corps at El Arish & who drafted here & I took on as a
policeman. A very good fellow. We went ashore at Hedd, a dirty place with tiny narrow lanes, yet somehow the
appearance of all the various little towns on different islands, when they are coloured pink by the sunset, reminds me
very faintly of Venice - only less so.

Friday 24th September

Yusuf Kanoo came to call in the morning. He is not as old as I expected but even more oily & sly than I had heard.
He is perhaps the most powerful man in Bahrain. He started as a servant in the Agency & in Prideaux's time was
raised to post of Turgoman & by stirring up endless rows between the Agency & the local people & pretending
himself to patch them up he acquired the reputation of being in the confidence of the Government & so collected a
large fortune. Daly found him out as a real mischief maker & let him know what he thought of him. He was very