Page 428 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

Tuesday [2 April]

Biladya meeting at Muharrak. They really are very absurd at times. Most of the members are fairly aged persons with
long beards, yet they spent a whole hour discussing issuing a law that women must wear trousers under their skirts as
when there is a wind their clothes are indecent. I managed to persuade them that the whole town would laugh at them
if they did this and they amended it to an order that women must be suitably dressed. They were very strong on the
moral tack all the morning. Shaikh Abdulla was obviously most amused by it, so was I. It is so absurd when one
knows a good deal about their goings on to hear them talking like very prim governesses. Went out to Galali after the
meeting to see some land. Very hot dry day, over 80, quite the hottest day since we came back. Played tennis at the
Agency, with the officers off the Lupin, and afterwards dined there with the Captain and de Grenier. He didnt play
Bridge so it was a very dull party.

Wednesday 3rd April

Had a Court in the morning instead of Monday. Got through about thirty cases. Called on Yusuf Kanoo in the
afternoon to say good-bye to him as he is off to India by the down mail. I am always glad when he goes. He was very
effusive but gave me really a very good tea, biscuits and proper tea. His house is extremly nice, fine large rooms above
the Customs looking over the port. He was quite interesting but inclined to repeat himself. Then went to Mespers for
tea and tennis. Rather a dull party. The small boy, John, is ill, they think he has got malaria. He looked very seedy
and they were very worried about him.

Thursday 4th April

Started a Court in the morning and then went out to lunch at the Shaikh's taking D.G. the doctor, Sadik Hassan, and the
Captain and three of the officers. Quite a pleasant party. A lot of the young Shaikhs were there and one very old one,
a contemporary of Shaikh Isa's who has become a little childish. He was really rather tiresome as he constantly got up
and walked over to where Shaikh Hamed was sitting and kissed him, that of course meant that everybody had to get up
and then sit down again. After lunch de Grenier took a photograph and the old man seeing this immediately placed
himself infront of the camera and began arranging his clothes and his head dress. He is a tiny little old man very
beautifully dressed and with his eyes carefully made up with knoll. The navy seemed to enjoy the meal, none of them
had ever been here before. Motored back and then, as the mail boat was in, the Captain came along to us to wait till
Barrett came ashore as he was all dressed up with sword etc and wanted to get his official call on the Agency finished
off. Before breakfast I called on the Kadi, Shaikh Abdel Latif. He talked about the business of the Mosque property.
It appeared that 20 years ago Shaikh Hamed sold a piece of ground and then signed a document saying that he had
gifted it to the Mosque, actually he sold it for Rs 2000 after a lot of bargaining. The Captain waited three hours with us
before Barrett came back. Went over to see B after dinner. He told me about the new P.A. They decided against
Dickson. Really I persuaded Barrett that he was not the best choice, then they asked Govt of India to appoint Mallam
or Prior, but a wire from Delhi crossed theirs saying that G of I had Selected Stewart-Horner. He used to be First Sec
at Bushire in Prideaux's time. He is absolutely detested by everyone. Barrett spoke most strongly about him and the
P.R. had him once as a Secretary and fired him in a fortnight. His expressions about him were very strong. When B
and the P.R. heard of this they wired again saying that they did not approve of the suggestion, so possibly something