Page 477 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

475

1929

a garden round it. Very hot day indeed, the hottest this summer I think. In the afternoon it was simply boiling, not a
scrap of wind and very damp. Everyone complained of it. The Shaikh has gone out to Sakhrir again. He is wise. Had
dinner with D.G. We sat on the roof afterwards and he played his gramaphone. He has good tunes. After each tune he
made suitable remarks indicating his profound knowledge of music. The car is being painted in parts so had to use the
Ford. Quite cool night.

Monday 9 September

No court as we had postponed it as I thought I was going out to the pearl banks. Office in the morning. Drove out in
the afternoon and dined with the Strakers. We are building the second half of the Shia school. It will be one of the
most handsome buildings in the place when it is done.

Tuesday [10 September]

Shaikh Mohamed came in the morning with his son and Abdulla's son who are returning to Beyrout. He tried to get me
to give them first class passages. I didnt. He really is terrible the way he bargains and argues over every rupee.
Manama Biladya meeting, dull. Ali bin Ibrahaim Kanoo, a sweet shop keeper, produced a long list of very silly
suggestions. Shaikh Mohamed was very tiresome and talked in a most unsuitable way about the Secretary of the
Muharrak Biladya who he dislikes as he has tried to stop several little games of Mohamed's. Went up to the Shaikh's
garden in the evening, it is doing quite well now after a lot of work and trouble. The Shaikh is only interested in it as
being able to produce fodder for his animals. He has now about 200 camels, absolutely useless and always causing
trouble. The Police Superintendent is again having difficulties with the Indian acting P.A. over the opium case, he
thinks it is not being taken properly. Went to the Shaikh's garden in the evening.

Wednesday [11 September]

Office, busy morning, a lot of people came in. Tennis at Mespers. Really no news. I didnt go to Mespers till late as it
was blowing such a violent shamaal that I didnt think they would play. The last two days have been really almost cold,
too cold to sleep on the roof, very strong wind. Pack was wearing a thick jersey after tennis. They are putting off the
expedition to the pearl banks. I wrote and said I would not go as the weather look so bad. Mrs Straker has at least
realised that it is not a trip for mixed company as they had calculated to be out for about 12 hours.

Thursday 12th September

Court, only a few cases as we had put on a big case which would have taken all the morning but one of the parties did
not turn up. I am making a pedigree of the Khalifa family, I got some information from Sulman for it. One collects it
by degrees. It will be very interesting when it is done. Haji Seggar, my old head clerk, who I have been thinking really
too old to stay on much longer, is being married. He announced this to me a few days ago. He is about 65 I imagine
and she is 20. His relations dont want him to marry and he has had much botheration about it and asked me to go with
him to Abdel Rahman Zayani, the head of the family. The boys who are going back to Beyrout University came round