Page 465 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

463

1929

masters and their supporters in the schools. Went to the Agency to see about a case which we are interested in. Tennis
at Agency in the afternoon, but only D.G. came so it was very boring. Bathed in the sea, the phosporus was simply
wonderful. One moved in a sort of cloud of light and every splash was like a shower of sparks. Sea very hot but rather
nice. Bardon, Bienenfeld and Ben Simon to dinner. A most well ... dinner with peach melba, really very well done by
Mohamed. ... bridge. Dined on the corner of the veranda and sat there ...

Wednesday 7th August 1929

Took the rest of the evidence in the Hamud bin Subah case. Sat till after one oclock and began at eight sharp. He
made a sort of statement at the end but nothing in it. I am less sure of this case than of the others but undoubtedly the
men did not attack the village and murder a man for their own purposes. They took nothing and say that they got
nothing out of if, but were promised a reward by Hamud. He is a fat smug person full of smug remarks. The case
happened eight years ago and the son of the man who was murdered was at once put into prison by orders of Shaikh Isa
because he dared to say that the murder was done by one of the Khalifa. He was kept three days in prison, for no
reason, and no notice was taken of the affair for six months, and then not much. There was never any trial or enquiry.
Mespers in the evening, quite good tennis, then Bridge. A much cooler day, at least less damp. Slept on the roof for
the first time this year. Extremly nice.

Thursday [8 August]

Ordinary Court in the morning. Got done fairly early. Called on the Shia Kadi in the afternoon and discussed the
question of his sitting with the Sunni Kadi about the murder trials. He was extremly sensible about it, said it was quite
an unprecedented idea and as their ideas on the subject of evidence, especially, are different they would most likely
disagree and that would be very bad politically. He kept on saying why couldnt we take the case ourselves. Altogether
had a most interesting conversation with him. One thing he said was that every one was satisfied with the present
court, though there are no Shias on it, and also that all the Bahranis would be satisfied if I was on the Court that they
would get a fair deal. He said it was far better not to send such cases to the Shera, Shia, as it required such very
definite proof that in many cases guilty persons would get off through a slight lack of technical evidence. I told him if
he did not agree the Shaikh would send it to the Sunni Court, if so he said there would be much feeling about it and
very likely the Bahrani witnesses would not appear. He spoke about the Shaikh saying why didnt he take it himself or
let his court settle the cases, and he very clearly saw the whole position because he said at the end whatever happens
the responsibility will be the Shaikhs and in no case will anyone think that I have not acted in the best way. Went to
the Agency when I got back and then had Pack and the Strakers to dinner, repeated last times dinner but had cold soup.
The ice pudding was a great success and went round three times. Played Bridge. Quite cool till just before they went
when it got very damp and swarms of tiny flying insects. Fortunately none during dinner. The Strakers are going on
leave in February, they are fed up about it as its too early in the year. The Shaikh has gone out to Sakhrir again for four
or five days. He found the ... very trying for several nights and as he says Sakhrir is as ... Simla or Quetta he has gone
out there again. I imagine ... relations who are being tried have been constantly ... since the cases began. Out there he
will be away ...

Friday 9th August