Page 282 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

280

1927

Saturday [27 August]

Court in the morning, no cases of any interest. Most of them are very dull. There was a cricket match in the afternoon against
the Navy which I did not go to. Took a walk round after tea. Dined at Spences, a big party, & afterwards played Bridge. He
has very good dinners. Hot night.

Sunday [28 August]

Went up to the Biladya in the morning & saw the Secretary & told him that he was to hand over to Ali bin Hussein, the new
man who I have got in. Rather an unpleasant job as the old man is quite a decent fellow though lazy & not intelligent. Ali b
Hussein was previously Secretary & then Secretary to the Shaikh until I came & took over that part of the work. Daly pushed
him out because he was extravagant, but knowing the ways of the Shaikh I dont see how an Arab could have prevented it. Had
a long time with a woman who wont go back to her husband & who we have kept in prison. I had the husband in & her
brother. On seeing the husband I felt that I agreed with her. I tried to get him to divorce her - but he wouldn't, & she of course
cant divorce him. Eventually I had to send her back to the fort as she absolutely refused to go to her people. The brother said
if the husband would divorce her he would find her a new husband, he offered two or three, of his own tribe, but she didnt care
for them. In the first place she ran away from her husband with another man & then refused to return. Her name is Hessa.