Page 426 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

Tuesday 26th March 1929
Went up to the Fort in the morning and then to the Police Station. Everything seems going on allright. Meeting of the
Biladya in the morning. The Shaikh attended. Quite a lively meeting. One member suggested that the house tax
should be reduced and an additional tax levied by the Customs. The Shaikh was strongly against it. Told the Shaikh
about Barrett going. He told the meeting, many speeches about him, as usual. The Arabs are wonderfully good at
complimentary speeches, but they mean nothing at all. The Shaikh came in the afternoon, as usual about an hour late.
I had a long list of things to ask him but couldnt get any decided answers about them. Discussed the idea of appointing
Shaikh Mohamed as President of the Manama Municipality. Settled to do so and the Shaikh told Mohamed, who was
with him. It is most unsuitable that the Ruler should be the President of the Biladya as if that is so all orders of the
Municipality assume the weight of State orders. The Shaikh was rather tiresome, he began saying how low his private
account was, and hinting at more allowance, then he suggested cutting down the amounts in the Budget allowed for the
Police etc. He knows absolutely nothing about accounts or figures and so has no idea of how things are done.
Afterwards Yousuf Kanoo came and talked a lot of tripe, as he always does, about sending a telegram to The Houses of
Parliament asking that Barrett should stay on here and not be taken from us. He really talked as if he had a screw
loose. The Shaikh had nothing particular to say to Barrett, afterwards Barrett kept me back and talked about various
things. He now thinks that he had better recommend Dickson as there is nobody else who is suitable. I am sorry, I
dont quite trust him. Went for a drive after a late tea. Marjorie went to tea with Tiffah, the Jewess. Calm day. Boat
arrived but a very poor mail indeed.

Wednesday March 27th

Went to the Fort before breakfast, then to the Biladya for a Committee meeting on revising the Municipal Laws and
rules, five members, Abdu Ali, who took little part, understanding very little of what was said being quite uneducated
and entirely illiterate, a fat Hindu who seemed very bored, a Bora who was quite intelligent, and Abdel Rahman Zayani
who was all the time troubled at the thought of being late for a luncheon party which he was attending. Stayed there
till one oclock but didnt get a great deal done. The house tax rules caused a lot of discussion. Tennis at Mespers in the
afternoon. Straker seemed rather off colour, she said they had had some of the ships officers on shore and evidently
they, and Straker, got very drunk. A pity and very trying for her. Another shamaal started, very queer only to have one
days interval of calm weather between two shamaals. The longer they go on the better as it keeps off the hot weather.
Barrett went to Bushire.

Thursday March 28th

Went out to see the Shaikh at Sakhrir. Got a good deal of business done with him. He talked about Barrett going and
said how much depended on whether the Political Officer was an interferer or not. He said that he was like a man
sitting on a wall, on one side the people and on the other side the Political Agent. Of course that is just the case, and
his position is very difficult indeed. As usual he complained of not having enough money. He really has plenty but
will never be satisfied with whatever amount he has. He has no idea of money values and is very extravagant, but with
nothing to show for it. I took Nairan with me. In the afternoon we took Mrs Barrett out for a drive before tea. Got lots
of flowers from the garden. It is really very productive now and provides us with a good many vegetables as well as
flowers. The Strakers came, and D.G. and later on Smith, Barden, the new Bank man, and the Doctor. Cool pleasant
day with a shamaal blowing hard.