Page 297 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat
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                                                              1927




















        a garden.  Neither will meet the other party which makes it very awkward.  Couldnt settle it so have asked them to appear
        together.  Went to garden in afternoon & to dinner with Pack.  Always most excellent food & specially good bread rolls &
        French coffee.  Played 3 handed Bridge & then poker, rather boring but there were 7 people so two tables not possible.



        Friday [23 September]

        Deputation of Indian Mohamedans called in the morning, headed by Aslaf, to protest against being left out of the election.
        Only property owners are voters & their community only possesses 8 men who own property.  Afterwards went by car to
        Sennad where I looked at some gardens about which there is a dispute & then across the causeway, dry at high tide, to Sitra
        Island where I spent the day mostly trying to persuade the people to take up land at a nominal rent on long lease in order to
        increase cultivation.  They were most suspicious & would agree to nothing thinking that somehow the Govt would "do" them.
        Had lunch with the chief Bahraini, Hassan bin Mazook, quite good, chicken on rice, bread, dates & milk.  The dates were ripe
        on the trees & delicious but make one very thirsty.  Had a lovely bathe in the spring, lovely clear water & some big fish in it.
        Got home after sunset very stiff from riding a donkey all over the place.  Sitra donkeys are splendid animals.  Took some
        photos.
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