Page 385 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1928

doings. A child was drowned in the sea opposite this house, a horrid thing. Went to the garden after tea, & to the
Agency after dinner as Barrett goes off tomorrow in his boat to the mainland.
Discussed question of the Mission & the geologists having taken photos & a cinema film of a woman
being publicly flogged in the market place, as ordered by the Shera Court. I am sending a circular letter about it which
will probably much annoy the mission - I hope it does. The mission are always very anti English & on the look out for
any chance of doing us any harm. A mischievous crowd.

Wednesday 11th [April]
Court. Left off early as I wanted to settle the Dawasir business which I got finished. They are an intolerable nuisance.
Ali bin Seggar came to call to talk about the evils of cinemas, a silly old man with little intelligence, it surprises me that
he has become a big pearl merchant. His only objection to it is that it will encourage children to steal money from their
parents in order to go to the cinema - silly argument.

Meeting of Biladya before breakfast at the Bank to discuss site of a bath which a Persian wants to build
next door to the bank. Decided that place was unsuitable. I went out to the Shaikhs in afternoon. M went to tennis at
Mespers. Got a lot of business done with him. He opened three cases of sweets, biscuits etc. which one of the
shopkeepers had sent him at the Eid, & divided them up between the children, three little girls of Abdulla bin Jabr
came in, all dressed alike, pretty little things, also several small boys. The Shaikh thoroughly enjoyed playing with
them. Went to tennis & Bridge at Mespers when I got back. Barretts left.

Thursday 12th [April]

Court. Dawasir came in & I settled the rest of their business - they all dislike eachother & squabble the whole time.
Glad to be done with them. Played tennis on Agency court, so nice having no mission, then tea & Bridge over here,
two tables.

Friday [13 April]
Went down bazaar but rather late. Called on Holmes on the way back & played Bridge there in the afternoon.

Saturday 14 [April]

Court. Sulman did not come so took it myself, 26 cases. Abdel Aziz Khunji brought some coins, a lot which the
workmen dug up at Suk al Khamis, old Persian one apparently dated about 160 years ago. They are all copper & were
buried in an earthenware pot. Motored out to see work on school, Idari etc. Nasty day, a lot of sand blowing about.
Dinner with Holmes. Parke made the 4th.

Sunday 15th April