Page 280 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

Biladya meeting at Muharraq. Rather a lively one. Yusuf Fakroo, a leading merchant who has made much money from
smuggling argued a great deal & was rather tiresome. He talked as if he, & not Sh Abdulla, was the President. Afterwards we
walked in the bazaar & took several photographs, but some inside which I do not think will come out as it was very dark.
Muharrak is far more picturesque than Manama, bazaars much narrower & of course much less modern & dirtier. Came back
& went to the office but didn't stay long as still have bad cold. The Lupin came in. The Shaikh called in the afternoon with
Sh. Mahomed, about the affair of the girl at Rafaa, very fussed at the idea of Parke sending for one of Sh. Mohamed's divorced
wives to give evidence. Ladies of the Khalifa family, it appears, can NEVER appear in Court, if, as is not unlikely, one of
them murders someone I wonder what would happen - according to their ideas - nothing, in this case the Khalifa lady is said to
have ordered a girl to be drowned. Sh Mohamed always annoys me. Had dinner with Alban - no one else there.

Wednesday 24th [August]

Office as usual, rather a lot to do as I missed several days. The Shaikh came round in the morning. Dinner at the Agency,
quite a crowd & two tables of Bridge, pleasant dinner. Hot damp day, lately we have had some nasty weather.

Thursday [25 August]