Page 437 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

435

1929

Biladya meeting. Shaikh Abdulla presided. He told us that he had news from the mainland that Ibn Saoud's forces
have suffered a reverse. The son of the Amir of Hassa, Fahad bin Abdulla bin Jeloui took an army from Hassa against
the rebellious shaikhs. The Shaikhs came to his camp to parley. He took them prisoners. They had warned their
people that if they did not return in three hours they were to come and get them. The other side attacked, the guards
over the prisoners seeing that they were being attacked murdered all the prisoners and because of this a lot of Fahad's
followers left him and went over to the enemy, his force was defeated and he was killed. It means a serious check for
Ibn Saoud. Shaikh Abdulla was going over to the mainland to see about some camels of his as he thought that there
might be a lot of disorder in Hassa owing to the defeat of the army. Its a good thing that we are on an island. Quite a
dull meeting. Went back to the Agency afterwards and discussed various things with Prior. There is a rice boat in at
present and a good cargo that will swell our year's receipts. Went out a drive in the afternoon and then a bathe. ... is a
rice boat in so I hope our revenues will do well this month. Went for a drive in the afternoon and then for a bathe in
Idari.

Wednesday 8th May

Called on the Shia Kadi in the morning after seeing a good many people in the office. I tried to get the Shaikh but he
left the Court very early so I missed him. The two sea planes arrived in the morning. People are getting more
accustomed to them. The Kadi was really very amusing and interesting. When he talks in his Meglis he is quite
different to when talking before an audience. As soon as he leaves the room he puts on a sort of super clerical voice,
like the stage parson, and uses long words, but in private he is quite normal. We had one of the flying men to stay, by
name Daddo-Langois, I think he is a French Canadian. He was quite pleasant but not out of the top drawer. In the
afternoon we went to Mespers. All the flying people were there including the Air Commodore, or some such queer
title who is apparently a sort of general, by name Burnett. I liked him. Their idea is to make Bahrain a sort of base and
to come here every week. Of course they take things a little too much for granted and talk of Bahrain as if it was
almost a colony. Had one rubber of Bridge. Bardon of the Bank came to dinner and we played Bridge after dinner.
The air man played quite well. Mrs Straker is evidently hoping to get up a flirtation with Prior as he doesnt play
Bridge she sat with him in a dark corner of the veranda and whispered while the gramaphone played sentimental tunes.

Thursday [9 May]

Court. There were sixty cases put down but a lot only took a minute or two. Shaikh Sulman is very good on the Court
and I leave a lot to him. The Shaikh has sent me yet another silugi dog, quite a nice one, grayish and black and very
young. It seems most friendly but howls if left alone which is tiresome. Went out for a drive in the afternoon. Nobody
came in to Bridge. Still quite cool, at least not too hot sleeping indoors.

Friday [10 May]

Prior came over in the morning and we went with him down the bazaar. It was rather warm. Bought an old Persian
water jug. They are rather nice things. We have several. A tiresome beggar followed us all the way down to the
Police Station so I handed him over to the Police and gave orders for him to be deported on next boat. He was very
old. If I catch one every Friday we should be gradually rid of them. M came back and we went into the Bank but there