Page 427 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

Friday March 29th

Went out to Essex Point in the car and then down the bazaar before going to the Bank. Played Bridge and as usual got
very late. Tennis at the Agency in afternoon. It was even more than usually gloomy. Mrs Barrett makes no effort to
entertain anyone, sits at the far end of the room and talks to whoever happens to be next to her, and there is a heavy
atmosphere of Mission. The tennis was rather better than usual.

Saturday [30 March]

Court. Very late. Took the case of Ibrahaim bin Kamal, a fellow who used to act as a sort of spy for me, but who got
mixed up in a case at the Agency and being a Bahrain subject was sent to us to deal with. Gave him six months and his
brother two months. Sulman delayed me a lot by some messages from The Shaikh, mostly about his depleted coffers.
Considering that he has an income of about £20,000 he is not absolutely a pauper. Went out rather late in the
afternoon. In the evening had a committee meeting from the Biladya, in the dining room, to go over the municipal
laws which are to be printed and published. The committee consisted of a Hindu, and Indian Mohamedan, two Arabs
and a Bahraini. They stayed till eleven oclock. Quite sensible people. We had a few arguments but not very violent.
A very full day.

Sunday 31st March. Easter Sunday
A lot of people came in to see me among them Ahmed bin Khamis. He has been ill and seemed very down in the
mouth. I felt very sorry for the old man. The School master and the President of the committee called and also Abdel
Aziz Khunji about the repairs to Idari water channel. Went up to the Fort with the Doctor and had an inspection of the
prisoners. They look very fit, they seem to get very fat in prison, probably far better fed than when in their own homes.
Went out in the afternoon and then to the Strakers to play Bridge. I seem to have been winning lately. On the whole I
do win.

Monday 1st April 1929

No Court as the Lupin came in and I had to go out with the Shaikh to call on her. Very calm, fortunately. The Captain
is a Sir John Alleyne, a pleasant little man, not at all assuming. We didnt stay long. The Shaikh was rather bored by
having to go. In the afternoon we went to the Mission. When I was in the garden after lunch the Ship's interpreter
came along and said he had been sent ashore by the officers "to arrange for them to play tennis on the Agency Court
that afternoon." Rather cool as Mrs Barrett is at the Agency and they had not called on her. I told him that if they
called Mrs Barrett would most likely invite them. Another meeting of the rules committee in the evening after dinner.
I think they rather like coming to the house. The Lupin is going to stay here till Friday.