Page 396 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1928

Saw Shaikh Mohamed in the afternoon. He is going on a hunting trip to Lingeh, I hope he makes a long
stay. Went up to the Biladya garden. It is in a bad way, water from three springs is coming into it and the whole place
is becoming a swamp. Wrote a letter to Abdu Ali, who owns one of the wells, and told him to close the pipe from his
garden to the Biladya. Of course he will think that I am getting at him because of this Kadi business. People to tea and
Bridge, only a few, the Barretts, Parke and de Grenier. We have finished having our rooms painted. They look very
nice. The dining room is slate gray with an orange frieze and a black line outlining the arches and the windows, the
drawing room is pale stone, yellowish, with a green frieze and shot green and pink curtains. Much cooler than the
colours that we had before, and better paint.

Friday 23rd Nov.

Got up lateish. Went down the bazaar and looked all over the Shaikh's property. A lot of repairs are needed, some
shops fell down after the rain. Then to the Bank were most people seemed to be calling. Smith is "at Home" there on
Friday mornings. Tennis at the Agency and Bridge. Really no news. Still rather hot, far hotter than last year. Siwa
and the new dog still on bad terms and not allowed to meet. It is rather awkward.

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Friday 14th December

Went down the market in the morning. Crowds of people about. The divers have lately got their advances and are all
spending their money in the bazaar, on clothes mostly. They have no idea of economy and buy the expensive things,
then when they have spent their money they complain that they have not enough. Went down to the Customs and then
to the Bank were we played Bridge with the Strakers. Smith's morning at homes are quite pleasant. He provides
coffee, chipped potatoes, beer and chocolates, to taste. Some take one some the other. Quite a warm day again.
Tennis at the Agency in the afternoon. Quite good games. Only a few of the Mission came which was a great relief.

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Saturday 15th [December]

Court. Shaikh Sulman is really very good at the cases. The Shaikh was in but I did not get time to go and see him.
Went a walk in the afternoon up to the Shaikhs garden. It is getting on fairly well but the rain did a great deal of
damage and left the garden all mud. All the seeds were washed away. Parke came in in the evening. Got a note from
Barrett telling me to push out the Passport proclamation at once. Sent for Mohamed Khalil and an Arab clerk and
drafted the proclamation. Parke and I went over it very carefully. Sent it out to the Shaikh by special messenger stuck
up one copy on the notice board in the bazaar. We are announcing that no Persians will be allowed to land in Bahrain
unless they have proper passports signed by a British Consul Officer. It is rather a big thing and may have very serious
effects. Possibly it will bring the Persian question to a head, I rather hope so. The Shaikh sent in asking me to go and
see him in Muharrak tomorrow. Dined with de Grenier. Quite a pleasant party, really very well done and most