Page 380 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1928

Sunnis require three men of respectable characters & standing to give evidence that they saw the new moon. We were
all looking out for it & no one saw it - I dont believe anyone really did! Naturally they are glad of an excuse to cut a
day off the Fast. Dined at the Dames, quite a party, Barretts & Mrs Haworth & Hakkens & Parke. Played a silly game.
Shaikh sent in to say people out there at Sakhrir saw the moon.

Friday 23rd March

Eid al Fitr 1st of Shawaal

Went down bazaar in morning. All the shops & offices were shut for the Eid & nobody about in the bazaar. Took
some photos of beggars, crowds of them round all the mosques. Very windy day, strong shamaal but warm in the
bazaar. Tea & tennis at Agency. P.R. didnt appear. Too windy for much tennis. Played Bridge afterwards. The P.R.
is going by next up boat.

Saturday 24th [March]

In the morning we went over to Muharrak with Barrett, Bazalgette & the Shaikh. We went with him in his launch &
M, Mrs B & Mrs Haworth in a smaller launch. A whole crowd of the Shaikhs were with him, all very gorgeously
dressed in new clothes for the Eid. When we arrived the ladies went off to Ayesha's house & we did a round of calls
with the Shaikh. Very crowded in the bazaar, all the people & the children wearing new clothes of brilliant colours.

A big crowd of Arabs dancing & shooting off guns & beating drums outside Sh Isa's house. A number of
the Shaikhs came in while we were there. Sh Isa was much as usual. Long pauses of minutes at a time & occasional
conversation, in spite of being over 80 he looks flourishing. After him we called on Mohamed, Abdulla Rashid and
Ibrahaim & then came back the tide being rather far out, however we got home without sticking. Shaikh Abdulla wore
a most gorgeous abba, thick black with heavy gold embroidery, a gold sword set with large pearls and white & gold
silk under robe.

Went to the garden in the afternoon. Things are coming out nicely, a lot of gallardias. The P.R. had sent
a message to say he was not well so couldnt come to dinner, at 6 pm Barrett wrote saying, if he could have boiled fish
& milk pudding he would come! so he did, we had to put two tables together as the party was us, Barretts, Haworths,
Bazalgette & Parke. After dinner played roulette, much to Parke's annoyance. The P.R. didnt play but advised, read
Whitakers Almanac & remarked that there was hardly a colonial Governorship that he would accept.

Sunday March 25th

Paid calls in Manama in the morning, the Kadi, Mohamed Sheref, Kanoos and various of the leading merchants - rather
dull. Met the doctor who was doing the same so we went together to some. The Shaikh came in to say good-bye to the
P.R. M called on the Kanoos & in the afternoon on A.R. Zayani's wife. The latter talked much of the disgraceful way
the Shaikh treats one of his wives, putting her in the palace without any servants & an allowance of Rs 250/- per month
& expecting her to entertain him & a crowd of servants & hangers on when he comes into Manama. Called on Seyed
Ednan in the afternoon. He was late as he had been in Manama very pleasant. Discussed the Khaled case. The PR