Page 248 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

246

1927

Wednesday [29th June]

Cant remember anything of interest in the morning. Tennis at Spences followed by Bridge. Pickering is a great loss,
he was lively & made a good show always. Smith is an awful little tyke. Quite good tennis.

Thursday 30th [June]

Customs in morning, then went in to see the Shaikh at the Joint Court & stayed till Alban arrived. Afterwards had a
Court. Went over to the Agency. Saw Shaikh Ali, the dragoman who was dismissed for taking bribes. Alban regretted
that he was not still working at the Agency. In afternoon we attended "Speech Day" at the school in Manama. A dull
& lengthy proceeding. The Shaikh was very late & as usual very bored, tried several times to leave, eventually did so
before the show was over. Usual speeches & readings of the Koran by boys & masters, then the Shaikh gave away
prizes, a large quantity of very nice silver & even gold watches, far too good & far too many for the school. The
Shaikh gave about £40 worth - merely because "Education" has become fashionable this year, they all copy eachother.
Went for a bit of a drive afterwards with Alban, & into the Fort.

Friday 1st July

Read & wrote letters all the morning. Tennis at Agency in afternoon. Dull day. Nothing to write about.