Page 383 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1928

Wednesday 4th April

Barrett tells me that the new Resident in place of Haworth, who retires in October, is to be Sir Frederic Johnson from
Baluchistan. Nobody knows anything about him except that he is 58. Saw people & did office work in the morning.
Went over to Barrett to talk about the Persian propaganda in the town. Seyed Ednan called at 1.30 & stayed nearly 4
hour! An impossible time to call. He wished to alter some arrangements which we made yesterday about meetings.

Tennis & Bridge at Strakers.

Thursday 5th [April]

Court. People to tea & Bridge. Very hot day.

Friday 6th [April]

A luncheon party at Mohamed Zayanis at Muharrak. Went over in Mohamed Yatim's launch with him & Parke & de
Grenier. They two went out to Hedd when we arrived and M & I & Yatim walked through the bazaar & worked at the
latest improvements of the Biladya. They have done a lot of road widening & much improved things. Walked along to
Zayanis house, the others, Barretts, Dr Holmes, Smith, arrived later. Waited a long time for lunch drinking constant
turns of tea & coffee. M & Mrs Barrett went to the harem. Had lunch in an upstairs Meglis where M & Mrs B joined
us. Afterwards waited a long time for the tide to be right for returning back to Manama. At lunch de Grenier & Yusuf
Fakroo competed as usual as to who could eat most. Its a standing joke. de G certainly beats most of them. Some
conversation about motor launches being used for going out to buy pearls at the banks. A good deal of feeling about it.
Got back late in the afternoon & went over to the Agency for tennis. Tennis at the Agency is spoilt by the Mission
being there, they are awful especially a monstrous female called Mrs Dame who wears pink and spangles & stands
solid in the centre of the court never changing her position & missing every ball, yet she tries to play in every sett.

Saturday 7th [April]

Went hunting with the Shaikh. We went on the Agency boat, a little steamer called the John Lambert, started before
breakfast which we had on board. Took about four hours to get there, a nice trip, absolutely calm. Very pleasant
sitting on deck reading Gertrude Bell's letters which Barrett had with him. The island looked quite pretty in places
from the sea. Off Budeya the Shaikhs launch came alongside but we did not go aboard as it was far more comfortable
on the boat. We sailed on for a long while right round the end of the island arriving over an hour later than the others
who had been sitting in a hot little hut for a long time. Holmes & Rhoades were there with Mohamed Yatim, &
ourselves & Barrett. She didnt come. Had lunch after some time - a poor meal, tough meat & rather thrown at one.
The Shaikh then retired to his launch to sleep for an hour or so. The lunch was given by Sh Abdel Latif one of the
Dawasir, a silly old man who is always bothering me for money. Finally we started off hunting, Barrett, M, & the
Shaikh & Holmes riding white donkeys, I & the boys walking with the dogs on leashes. Omar had Siwa. Most
unfortunately Siwa put up a gazelle, hunted it & caught it - & female too. Really most annoying. He always does the