Page 419 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

417

1929

and a brilliant blue sky. Reading Wintersmoon, by Walpole. A trifle tedious and about such excessively `proper'
people, nobody not `County' or more so, so Parke likes it enormously.

Sunday 3rd March 1929

Office in morning. Nothing of any interest. Went out to see about a case which Barrett was taking out in the country
about water rights in a garden. The parties were an old Arab, and his son, and two Persians, father and son. They had
five eyes between them. So many of the people here have bad eyes. The young man who is staying with Barrett came
too, quite pleasant, a gentleman, but rather a strong Oxford manner. He is travelling about with the idea of standing for
Parliament later on, by name Moulson. The FitzGerlads took his people's house at Goring on Sea three years running.
His father was, and perhaps still is, a member of Parliament. Barrett as usual dawdled about for ages and allowed the
parties to become violently abusive with eachother and accomplished nothing. He spent nearly two hours looking at
gardens and really there was no point in doing so. I never have met a person who wastes more time by not being able
to make up his mind. Personally I think it is better to be definite, and perhaps wrong at times, than never to come to
any decision. Met some people at Idari afterwards and fixed about a bridge being made at the corner.

Parke came to tea, as usual. Discussed our Contracts and when he would be due for leave next time.
Duck for dinner given to us by Shaikh Sulman.

Monday 4th March

Went across to Muharrak and took Moulson with me. Drove out to Busatin to see some ground which people wanted
to buy and then had a walk in the bazaars. He was quite interested in all he saw. Called on Shaikh Abdulla who was
sitting in a Meglis above the bazaar looking out with his glasses at all the people down below. Quite an amusing place.
Came back to the office and went over all the Shaikh's accounts. He never attempts to economise, its a hopeless
business running his private money affairs as he has absolutely no idea of money values and is hopelessly extravagant.
Went out to see the garden of Abdel Aziz Khunji in the afternoon and also to look at some road work, then to tennis at
the Agency after which we played Bridge. Very hot south wind, quite like a summer day.

Tuesday 5th March
A good many people came to the Office in the morning. Finished revising the Iraq Municipal Law to suit our needs in
Bahrain. It has been a long job but I think it is worth while. I have sent for Arabic copies from Bagdad. Shaikh
Abdulla al Khalifa called in afternoon. In the morning he sent in a man accusing him of having provided his son with
liquor. The man sold it to the boy, who is about 17, and the boy rolled into his father's Meglis absolutely drunk. There
were people there and of course happening during Ramadan made it all the worse. Abdulla searched his sons house
and found several bottles, then he discovered who sold them, arrested them and sent them along to me. I jugged the
man. He was very angry indeed about it. I heard that he gave his son an awful beating. The boy married since we
came back from leave. He has a very bad reputation, though young. Drove out in the afternoon. The Barretts, Parke
and Molson came to dinner. Quite a successful party. Afterwards played Bridge, but only one rubber as the Barretts,
as usual, hurried off early. So absurd, there is no reason for there going away so early. Parke very worried over the
way Barrett's assistant is taking the murder case. He is told by Sulman, the head of Police, that the Magistrate tried to