Page 408 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

pitch dark with the doors bolted outside listening to a conversation between one of the prisoners and another fellow
who was put in as a spy. The prisoner discussed the shooting up business and said how he had been there. It is really
all very thrilling. I dont expect Shaikh Abdulla is feeling very comfortable just now. If Barrett has to try the case and
all this comes out it will be very difficult indeed to decide what is best to do. These Eastern people have their own
standards and for a brother to murder a brother in order to get his position is a very common thing in The Gulf.

Monday [28 January]

Court in the morning but over quite soon. Went across to the Agency for a few minutes at lunch time to see Barrett
about having a meeting to discuss the landing charges petition. Abdulla bin Jabr (the Shaikh's head confidential
servant) came in and I had a talk with him. He told me that a lot of the young shaikhlings in Muharrak are taking to
drink and Persians are importing liquor into Muharrak. Its a bad place as there is so little supervision over there and
not many police. We shall have a raid there. Went out for a drive in the afternoon, not feeling like the Mission tennis,
and then made toast at the fire for tea which was very nice. Still windy but nothing like the weather it has been these
few days. Dined with de Grenier. Penton, the Captain of the oil boat from Abadan was there too, a nice fellow.
Played Bridge.

Tuesday [29 January]

Manama Biladya meeting, the Shaikh sent a letter ordering me to represent him as President. One member raised an
objection not having heard the letter which was read out. A row between Khalil Moayad and Ali bin Hussein, the
Municipal Secretary, the former accused the latter of being too fond of saving money and showing a big balance at the
end of each month instead of spending the money on improvements. After the meeting we had a meeting about the
Landing Contract, quite peaceable, lasted till 1.30. Drove out in the afternoon to see some ground which we are selling
and to see the new School which is getting on very well indeed. Tennis at the Agency and then Bridge. A boat came
in in the evening but dont know whether it is the mail or not. The mail is days overdue owing to the weather.
Borrowed Amin Rehani's book on Ibn Saoud from Barrett, seems extremely interesting but very irritating in its
comments on British politics etc. A lot in it about various Arabs and English people out here and some mention of
Bahrain. Had one of our own cauliflours for lunch, very good. The French Cruiser is expected tomorrow.

Wednesday 30th Jan.

Saw various people in the morning among them a fellow from Mosul who wanted a monopoly for making bricks and
coloured tiles and lime, a fat rather oily person who talked about "good Christian officers" who had given him
contracts in Iraq. He is a Christian from Mosul and a protegee of the Mission. Went down and saw the Shaikh for a
few minutes at the Joint Court. Pointed out to him that the increase in Sulman's allowance will make a corresponding
increase in the Civil List, his only reply was "Inshallah the revenues will increase". He really is hopeless. Called on
the Kadis at the Shera Court in the Afternoon. They as usual, like everyone else, wanted money. They were quite
pleasant but rather tiresome. They are two very old men with white beards and very venerable appearance bossed by a
younger one, all dressed in white robes and white turbans. They form the religious Court, by chance they all have the
same names "Abdel Latif". Mespers in the afternoon. The shamaal has gone down slightly.