Page 486 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

484

1929

cant detect them except with a very powerful sort of electric microscope. They wouldnt tell me the name but said it
was someone who was very near to the Shaikh. A bad business.

Thursday 10th October
Court. Some rather amusing Police cases. Abdu Ali came in. Shaikh Rashid, the Shaikh's father in law came with his
grandson, one of the Shaikh's sons who is not popular with his father, and brought a vague letter from the Shaikh
talking about giving him land. As I had heard nothing about it I postponed the matter. As soon as he gives something
to one of his sons all the others ask for more and get their relations to support them. Went out to Sakhrir in the
afternoon and had a couple of hours talk with the Shaikh, it is easier to get him there on business. He was very
interested in the details of the murder. He is again starting some building though neither he or the state are well off.
Barden, Ben Simon and Bienenfeld came to dinner, we had dinner inside and played Bridge inside as it was so cool and
a strong shamaal blowing. The person who sold the dud pearl is Abdulla bin Jabr. Most awkward. He is almost more
useful to me than anyone else here and I like him though I know he is a bad hat. I have a lot of dealings with him and
The Shaikh always sends him to me on any confidential messages. He is The Shaikh's sort of confidential steward, and
a very capable one too. Very difficult indeed, I wish the matter had not happened. Had a raid done on a place where
they were making liquor and got a good haul.

Friday 11th October 1929

Pleasant cool day except in the sun. Stayed in bed till nearly nine. After breakfast went to Abdulla bin Jabr's house to
see some carpets which have been sent to The Shaikh by The Shaikh of Dohar. There were twenty beautiful ones,
really a fine show. We put them all out on the roof, it was like a flower garden. Stayed there for some times
discussing the news from the mainland, again Ibn Saoud has sent messages of a great victory, but it now happens so
often that people do not believe it. They say now that all the big shaikhs who were opposing him have been killed in
battle. I am sorry, I should like to see him beaten, badly. He is much too powerful and has too much influence in
Bahrain. Painted in the morning. Shaikh Mohamed came to call in the afternoon with some people who have been
staying with him, one was the son of a very well known Shaikh from near Damascus, a pleasant fellow with long
ringlets in the style they wear them up there. Went to the Biladya garden in the afternoon and planted seeds, a lot of
people there, then to the Doctor's where the Strakers and Pack were calling. They are very sad about the affair of their
natur. Apparently the woman had three small children and the eldest of them, a very small boy, brought them down to
the house and deposited them there. It is very pathetic. He came to ask Straker to get his father out of prison. At
present the children are being looked after by the Strakers servants. Abdulla, the man who murdered his wife, used to
take out John Straker always and was particularly good with him. We all knew the man well.

Saturday October 12th

Cannot remember anything to write. Had a meeting of the Shia school committee on the subject of the new Inspector
of schools. They were extremly irritating and obstinate and seemed to be all against it. They have been put up to it by
the head teacher who I expect doesnt like the idea of being supervised. Very irritating. Went out to the boat to meet
Parke who stayed the night with me. He looks very well and has put on weight.