Page 475 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

everyone who ever went there became immoral. He talked as if it was a place that people went to only for those
purposes. He also talked about his relation Khalifa bin Hamed of Jessra and said that he heard he was drinking again.
That also is nothing new. The Shaikh never seems to know what is really going on here.

Tuesday 3rd September 1929

Did not go to the Muharrak Biladya meeting. The Shaikh came round in the morning, we sat up on the veranda, it is
far the coolest place always. He talked about Hamud bin Subah who was convicted of instigating murders, he used to
be the President of the Meglis Urfi but was asked to withdraw from it, he is now constantly bothering the Shaikh as he
loses Rs 200 a month, the President's salary. The Shaikh is quite inclined to put him back on the job, but he seemed to
understand when I explained that it would be hardly suitable to have a man who was convicted of such a crime as
President of a Court. Hamud is evidently bothering him a lot.

The Police raided the servants quarters of the Mission and got a lot of opium. Pennings, who I met in the
street, seemed very annoyed and said that the Police had brought the opium with them. There is no doubt about it,
apparently the Hospital Compounder kept a sort of opium den. They were caught red handed with pipes alight and a
big supply inside the house. Pennings went to see Sadiq Hassan about it. Motored out in the evening, to the school to
see how the building is getting on. After dinner went out to Idari with the doctor. Quite chilly in the water at first.
The nights now are very cool. I have not had one really bad night this year, it is always quite cool on the roof, several
degrees cooler than below on the veranda.

Wednesday [4 September]

Office, a lot of people in and out and a lot of letters. I have taken to my downstairs office again as the one up above is
so hot in the summer, the sun gets it direct. The Shaikh came in on his way from the Court. He has been asked to go
out to the pearl banks with Kozaibi and Habib. They invited me some time ago. He doesnt really want to go but was
evidently pushed into it. He has postponed it for a few days. He has never been out to the banks in his life. Mespers
in the afternoon, quite good tennis, lately somehow it has been very bad indeed. Mrs Straker talked of going on this
trip, most unsuitable, they will be out about nine or ten hours, and in a launch with a crowd of Arabs. I hope he
persuades her not to go. They again say they are sacking their aya. It appears that she drinks.

Thursday [5 September]

No court owing to the arrival of the flying boat. They came at about ten oclock but didnt come to the house till nearly
one. The party was Howe, the Flight Commander, one Gandy, a flight Lieut and their Works Officer, a fat rather
dusky person. They sat in the office for about an hour discussing building prices and interviewing a Mr Kellow, a
Mosuli Christian who wants to take the building contract. After lunch I took them up to see the building at the Shia
school which they were very interested in. Then to Mespers and after dinner out to Idari to bathe. Mohamed did very
well and lunch and dinner really couldnt have been better. They are quite pleasant but seem rather to have the idea that
everyone is very thrilled at everything that they do. They never realise that one has any work to do.