Page 418 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

416

1929

Mespers, rather gloomy as both S and Mrs S were rather off colour. Siwa got bitten by one of the horrid pariah dogs.
They are very bad outside the town and go about in big packs.

Thursday 28th Feb.

Various people came to see me, Abdel Aziz Khunji, a Persian merchant, and Ahmed bin Abdulla al Menai, a retired
narhuda who has given up the sea and set up as a landowner. He bought a garden which had belonged to the Khalids,
the Shaikh's relations who instigated the murders and the attempt against him himself. When they were allowed to
come back the Shaikh wished him to give up the garden. The Shaikh refused to see him himself so I have had to
arrange the matter and very awkward too as I consider that the Shaikh behaved abominably about it. The man bought
the gardens in the open market and the title deed was signed by the Shaikh himself. Whenever the Shaikh does a thing
which he knows to be unjust or wrong he tries to hide behind me. He really is a terribly weak character and one can
never depend on him. He goes back on his word without the smallest compunction and would let anyone down if it
saved his face to do so. Went across to the Agency. Barrett had a case in which a Bahrain subject is involved. Wasted
half the morning sitting in his office wasting time while he looked over a huge file of papers about the case, which has
been going on for 15 years, and read out bits of it. The two parties stood for a whole half hour before he said anything
to them, then they shouted abuse at eachother every time he spoke to them, one is a Persian and one a Bahrain Arab.
The case is about water rights in some date gardens. Barrett is one of those maddening people who cant make up his
own mind. However it seems to pay in the Political Service. Agreed to go out and see the garden. It is no affair of
mine and I dont want to be pulled into it. The Shaikh came in the afternoon. He sent a message saying he would call
at the Agency at three oclock. He arrived here at half past three and sat in his car talking to me for nearly half an hour.
Then we went over to the Agency. He had nothing of any importance to talk about but stayed there till after five
gossipping. I suppose he felt bored by Sakhrir. He asked about the American ladies and seemed very glad they had
come in, and amused. People to tea and Bridge. A lot of people seem to have colds. Nice day, no violent wind and
quite warm but not hot.

Friday 1st March

Spent some time in the morning with the hens. Put the chickens out on the back veranda. One lot are very well but
only two remain of the second batch. All the rest died, I dont know why. Went down the bazaar in the morning. Very
empty but crowds of filthy beggars about. They are always extra bad at Ramadan and a great nuisance. Went to the
Bank and played Bridge. Tennis and tea at the Agency. Nice day.

Saturday 2nd March

Court. Crowds of people but very dull cases. Rather late getting up to lunch. Two of my clerks had a row, fortunately
it rarely occurs, both very young and very full of their own importance, one a Hindu and the other an Arab. When one
ticks them off for things of this sort they disolve in tears. Shaikh Sulman brought us a brace of wild duck, they are
very good and make a change from the usual rather tough meat. Hens laid six eggs, one better than yesterday. Drove
to Aali in the afternoon and went to see the School on the way back. Parke came to tea and stayed till dinner time, but
he was very pleasant really. He is so much better without her here. The boat came in but at nine oclock the mail was
not yet out. They are terribly slow about it now a days. Very nice day rather like a summer day at home, sunny, cool