Page 457 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

but they would have a big one. Sat firmly on the attempts to ban saccharine and soda, too silly. A great to do about the
son of Abdul Nebi Bushiri who came back from Persia without, apparently, a proper pass. G.D. made a great muddle
of it all and let him ashore, then reported it to me. I reported to Prior who had him arrested so Abdul Nebi sat on my
door step from 2 P M till 5 30 asking me to let him out on bail, which I did. It did him good to go to prison even for a
day. Prior very angry with D.G. who behaved very stupidly. A queer man fellow from Negd is going about
denouncing the Kozaibis and also saying that our schools here are anti Islam. I arrested him. Supposed to play tennis
at Wireless but one of the party did not appear so I took Straker up to the golf course, then went to the Fort and then to
Idari. Everyone seemed to be bathing there. My Muharram photos came by the down mail, not very good. D.G. very
sulky as Prior wrote and told him he was an idiot. Went over to Agency after dinner. The Air Force want a permanent
landing ground. I am writing to say we might lease them one.

Wednesday [10 July]

Fort before breakfast then to Police Station and there I was caught by the Shaikh. Stayed some time in the J.C. They
were taking the Baraida case which has been going on merrily for 15 years and still not finished. The Shaikh talks of
offering his big Fiat to Shaikh Isa. Quite unnecessary. A lot of callers. Worked in the office after lunch as I had a lot
of work to finish off. Tennis Mespers and Bridge. I am up this month. The old mad lady has returned to the Agency
and gives Prior a lot of trouble. She is deported to Muharrak at intervals. I believe now she has moved here. They call
her Om al Kouti, "Mother of the Court". She is very forcible and gets very angry with people. A long law case sent
her mad and she still has it on her brain.

Thursday July 11th

Court. D.G. came in and stayed a long time, very offended at some of the expressions which Prior used to him. If he
had heard some of the ones he used to me, about D.G. I dont know what he would have thought. Court, but got done
very early as so few people turned up. Played tennis in the afternoon and Dame and I beat Straker and an Indian,
easily. Mrs Straker sat and made remarks on his bad play. She must be a most irritating wife at times. Bathed in Idari.
Everyone is getting rather tired of this tournament which wont be over before another fortnight, six weeks in all. Abdu
Ali came to see me after dinner. He was really very interesting talking about the old days in Bahrain and the slave
trade and the gun running and the wars in Bahrain between the Khalifa Shaikhs. The wretched Bahranis had a very
thin time in those days. He stayed very late. One of his wives has just died and he seems rather depressed, though she
was one of many and not one he paid any attention to. Idari is very pleasant. A really hot day, the summer seems to
have begun and the Bora wind has finished, a pity. All the Arabs say it is the start of the really hot weather.

Friday [12 July]

Went up to see the Shaikh before breakfast instead of yesterday afternoon when he had asked me. Seemed to be rather
peevish, complained much of feeling so ill after he had climbed up stairs, and generally disliking the Palace. He wants
to make a lot of alterations. Eventually I said why didnt he sell it, he simply jumped at the idea and then cheered up