Page 468 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

people couldnt possibly have done anything wicked as because they never missed their prayers they must be good
people. However he was decidedly nonplussed when I said that the Bahrani in the Farsia case had said that if the
Shaikh did not think his relations guilty five years ago why had he ordered them to be put in prison and fined Rs 7500.
He would have liked to say that it was because Daly made him, but he didnt. Dined at the Agency. Howe, the Wing
Commander, and a very young fellow called Southey and an awful person called Remmington are on the plane. They
tire me. They had been to Abu Dhabbi, one of the little places on the coast ruled over by a Shaikh, where they are
always having rows and murders. They had no interpreter and none speak arabic but they met some Hindu traders
there who translated for them. They talked about it all in the most amazing way, saying that they thought there was a
conspiracy because the Shaikh would hardly let them go back to the machine. Naturally these Shaikhs always try and
keep people as long as they can, its the hospitable idea. One of them on the machine apparently was considering firing
on the town with a machine gun because the others didnt come back at the right time so he thought they might have
been murdered. They know absolutely nothing about Arabs and ought not to be allowed to go about the Gulf in this
casual way, they are really dangerous and I shant be surprised if they cause trouble. The Trucial Coast people are very
wild and dont understand things.

Wednesday [14 August]

Went out with Howe in the morning to look at the aerodrome and to show him the Quarantine which I want to sell to
them as the building is too near the other houses for a quarantine camp. I want to get about Rs 12,000 for it. Then we
can build a new one perhaps at the Portuguese Fort. Very hot in the sun; I refused to get out of the car but he marched
about the place for a long time. These Flying people seem to have the idea that one has nothing whatever to do, at any
time, except to attend to their business. They have started talking about keeping the Landing ground clear etc etc, so I
have written to say that if they care to lease it they can, at Rs 2500 per annum but otherwise we cannot guarantee that it
wont be built over. They seem quite surprised at the idea of not having it for nothing. Tennis at Mespers and after
dinner went out to bathe in Idari with Prior and his guests. He is quite sick of them and complains much to me of their
goings on. They think the world and especially Bahrain is their own exclusive property. I hope they wont come while
Prior is away as I shall have to cope with them, the only thing about them, in their favour, is that they are very
temperate. Two dont drink at all.

Thursday 15th August 1929

Got up before sunrise and had an early breakfast. Sent the car along to get Straker and Howe came over from the
Agency. We motored up to the mooring place and met Shaikhs Mohamed and Sulman on the way. Mubarak was late
but eventually came across the mud behind the Shaikh's old house and left his car stuck in the mud. Got onto the
launch and so onto the flying machine which was at anchor. Very uncomfortable inside, like being in a sort of tube
with very narrow seats along the side and not room for one, that is me, to stand up. Two big round port holes at each
end and little glass windows along the sides, but shut. One gets in and out by the portholes. Its a queer sort of
machine, a mixture of aeroplane and submarine. Started off in a few minutes. Very stuffy inside. All had cotton wool
in our ears to prevent deafness. The noise of the engine is terrific, one cant talk but converse by writing chits. I
couldnt see out much as I was not near the big porthole. Flew for about 20 minutes, over the sea. I didnt mind the
feeling at all until we went down, then I felt extremly sick. Landed on the sea and though it looked calm there was a
swell and that quite finished me off. However after a bit I felt better. We dropped an anchor close to a pearling boat
and the others went on board her. I didnt as she looked as if she was bobbing about even more than the aeroplane. Sat