Page 447 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

445

1929

Meeting of the Manama Biladya. Dull show, Prior didnt appear. They began talking about the liquor licenses and Ali
Kanoo, who has becoming more and more offensive, said that the Biladya ought to know exactly how much was
supplied to everybody. I suppressed him. Office afterwards. The boat was expected but is not coming till tomorrow.
Went over to Muharrak taking Prior in the afternoon and went out to see a lot of pieces of ground in Busatin, Galali,
and Hedd. Took coffee with one Siadi who has a very nice big house on the shore near some funny little islands which
one sees from here. He had fever and lay on a mattress in the corner of the room groaning loudly all the time while we
ate tinned fruit. They must have opened at least a dozen different tins, positively lavish, yet he is reputed a miser. He
had a cloth tied round his head which they all do when ill whatever is the matter with them. A nice house among
gardens on the sea shore. He is a very tiresome man and always having cases in my court and pretending to be ill.
Hedd is horribly dirty and all narrow lanes, most of it is quite impossible for cars. Got back at eight and were invited
to the Dames to dine at 8.15, fortunately their clocks made us right time being different to our time. Went out a drive
after dinner and then in to the Agency for awhile. Prior discussed the way Thomas of Muscat boosts himself. Rather a
warm night. The man who did the murder at the Portuguese fort was caught. He killed his lady friend, apparently no
doubt about it. New moon, the beginning of Muharram. I shall go to some of the prayer meetings this season.

Sunday 9th June

The boat came in the morning but the mail didnt get sorted till very late. Went up to the Fort and was there a long
time. There seems to be a little tiresomeness among the men who are asking for money in lieu of rations as they were
told that they would have rations worth about 15/- and actually they cost us 12/8. They are too well paid as it is. Beat
a man, Prior is rather a hand at beatings and a very good thing too. Various people came in the morning. Went over to
the Agency to meet Straker again about the Landing Coy. Agreed to reduce 10% all round and he wired to Bombay
asking them to accept, if they dont we shall finish with them. The other Siadi came in to tell me what a rogue his
cousin is, he probably heard we had been to see him. They have just begun a very big case involving about ten lacs,
mostly accounts. I think they are both rogues. Played tennis at the Agency in the afternoon. The Strakers there. D.G.
came later to play Bridge and seemed very sour at being asked to Bridge only not tennis. Prior and Mrs S very noisy.
The Sunni school committee came in the morning to ask for a grant of more money for the schools.

Monday 10th June

Court. Hot dampish day. Sh Sulman seemed rather seedy and left early. He is moving in to his Manama house.
Tennis at the Mission in the afternoon. The ice has begun, and high time too. Went out to Idari after tennis with Prior
and had a bathe. Very nice out there. Quite cool again by the evening. Dull day, nothing to write about.

Tuesday [11 June]

Went to Biladya meeting at Muharrak with Prior in a launch, very windy so sailed back in a joliboat. Nice cool day. It
is on the whole very cool this month. Still sleeping indoors. The meeting seemed to be mainly an argument with the
Secretary about his pay. He wanted more than the Meglis wished to give him. Went on a long time. Shaikh Mohamed
came in looking very sour. He dislikes the Biladya as it took some dues from him. Went up to the Palace to see the
Shaikh in the afternoon. He has the Shaikh of Dubai staying with him. When I arrived they were looking at a big print
of the Prince of Wales on horseback, by Munnings, and the Shaikh was making long speeches about him, "this man has