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1927

Friday [11 November]

Ahmed bin Khamis called. He is an old man who simply revels in intrigue, always full of petitions, secret documents & minor
thrills. Went down the bazaar in the morning & got a piece of gray silk, rather pretty. Silk is very cheap here as the duty, on
everything, is only 5%. The difficulty is getting it home. Tennis at the Agency. Had some quite good games. Dined with the
Parkes. She has made the house look quite passable with curtains cushions etc. Parke was rather tiresome. He is so pompous
& self important. Still quite hot, 80 or 81 every day, I think.

Saturday [12 November]
Court. Went a drive after tea & then up to the Palace to meet the Shaikh who sent for me. He is very fussed as some of the
Bahrainis, Shias, sent him a petition asking for the return of the old Shia Kadi Shaikh Khalaf, who was sent away, for the
second time, for taking bribes, about six months ago. I knew that there would soon be an attempt to get him back. The Shaikh
is as usual terribly weak minded about it & spoke of possibly getting him to give guarantees that he would behave properly - an
impossible idea. I told him that I was sure if he allowed the man to return there would be trouble. He said I was to sound the
chief men of the Baharnis. The same evening old Abdu Ali b Rejab came in & begged me to prevent Khalaf from returning.