Page 369 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1928

found the people coping with it most effectively. These straw houses would burn up very easily, fortunately this was a
solitary one not touching any others.

Sunday 12th [February]
Had a long talk with Parke & Shaikh Abdulla about removing the Amir & his assistant. Abdulla was most sensible
about it all & agreed that they were no use, he stayed on some time & discussed other things too. M & I & the Barretts
had lunch with Shaikh Mohamed in his garden near the old Portuguese Fort along the coast. Quite a pleasant party & a
nice garden, only Mohamed & two of his sons were there, the younger one, aged about twelve, talked very good
English. Mohamed treats them very sternly & doesnt stand any nonsense from them, different to Hamed. Afterwards
motored on to see Ali Yatim's garden. The Bs had not seen the water there.

Holmes, de Grenier & one of Holmes' American geologists came to dinner. Played Bridge. The
American, Rhoades, was a pleasant man but growing a beard which is unattractive in the early stages. We gave them
potatoes grown in the Beladya garden. Holmes had sent us a turkey which we had for dinner & very good too.

Monday 13th [February]

Court in the morning. Played tennis at the Agency in afternoon. Only us there. Played extremely badly. Smith & the
boss bank man, Tucker, who is doing a sort of tour of inspection, came to dinner.

Tuesday 14th Feb.

Biladya meeting in Manama. The Shaikh didnt attend, pretended he wasnt sure if there was a meeting but sent young
Mubarak who acted for him. Quite a good meeting, it lasted till one oclock. One of the Kanoos got up & criticised the
Police saying that they never enforced any of the Biladya rules. Wasted a long time in talking about moving a taxi
stand, that & the gramophones are the favourite subjects.

Motored out to Idari in the afternoon, they have finished about half the work. Dinner party at Holmes,
eighteen people, Holmes & de Grenier made speeches about the Spences - it was a farewell party to them - very good
dinner but rather cold as it was on the veranda partly curtained in for the occasion. Played Bridge afterwards.

Wednesday 15th Feb.

Went down to the Joint Court & talked to the Shaikh about the Amir, he entirely went back on the arrangement which
he had allowed Abdulla to make. he seemed to be all for keeping on the Amir & his assistant & against appointing
another one in Muharrak as it would cost money! The first time I have ever heard him speak of not spending money.
Went to see Parke who was very angry & fussed about it. Found Mrs P seated in the Police Station, then called on de
G, he has taken to wearing an Arab "abba" over his coat, it looks queer, he says the people like to see it. I suppose
there is really not any harm in it but he looks rather an ass wearing it. Tucker, the bank man, came to see me. He has
ideas of building a new bank & was asking about ground for it.