Page 391 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1928

only person who could do anything with Ahmed bin Khamis. This man hates the Khalifa family as he has been grossly
oppressed by them in the past. He is a queer old man and I often think he is rather mad, still he has a following.
Went back to my office. Parke asked if de Grenier might come along to discuss the business of the
Superintendent. He did so. We had the Superintendent in and showed him a long anonymous letter about his taking
bribes etc etc. Of course he denied everything. This went on till ten past two and then I could stand it no longer and
went up to lunch. Parke is demented about this business. He has backed the Superintendent the whole time and trusts
him implicitly though there is a lot against him which I believe to be true. I am sick of discussing it and Barrett is very
angry indeed with Parke and thinks him a fool. de Grenier came in again after lunch, also Parke, and both stayed to
tea. After tea we motored along to call on Mrs Straker. Their small boy, just over a year, is very nice. She seems
alright but very genteel, not a lady but quite pleasant. Dined with Parke. A quite abominable dinner tasting of ghee, de
G was the fourth and we played Bridge. Started to go there in a taxi but the lights...

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Monday 12th November

Various people came in the morning, one of them the sister of one of the leading merchants who has a big case on. She
was very angry with me and really very rude, all about her case in which she does not agree with my opinion. She
came with four women attendants who sat in a line along the wall in my office, finally she threw a letter at me and
flounced out. Bienenfeld and his Algerian clerk came to call to say good-bye as they are off to India tomorrow. He
wants to buy a piece of ground on the sea from near Mespers, the only site left there now. Parke looked in very excited
as he thinks he has got one of the men who was in the raid on Senobis two years ago. The Police have been after him
ever since. The difficulty will be to make his talk. This is such a civilised place that one cant do even mild torture but
P's idea is to keep him from sleeping for a few nights and then he may talk, that is not exactly torture. P thinks he
knows about the attack on the Shaikh as well. In the afternoon Abdel Rahman Zayani came to see me about the case of
his relation. Told him of my interview with the lady, he said she was well known as having a tongue, in fact a she
devil. I agree.

Tennis at the Mission. Only the Barretts there until de G. and P came in later on. After tea they came
back here and played Bridge. We have had a store room made which is necessary with all our new stores from the A &
N. The Admiral is coming here on the 27th but only for one day. Hope it will be smooth when I have to go out with
the Shaikh to call on him. Warmer day. Barrett came back from Katif. He had a rough passage and most of them
were sick but he, thanks to Mothersil, was not. He has a dangerous habit of discussing Government matters at the
Mission. They are known to be anti English so it is a pity to do it.

Tuesday 13th November

Had breakfast early and then Abdu Ali and Ahmed bin Khamis came. They were decidedly frigid but agreed to be
friends. Talked to them for some time on the question of the Kadis, finally they both agreed that they would support
two men and the third not yet decided on. The "favourite" is one Seyed Abdulla, a young man of 24 who is apparently
the only man among the Baharnis who has any pretence at learning, second is an old religious party living on the
mainland but some people says he is so old and shakes his head so much that he is no use. Took the two, and Abdu
Ali's son over to Muharrak in a joliboat. Motored up from the quay to the Shaikh's house. Found him again sitting