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1929

exist. They annoy me as I hear the other side. Shaikh Mohamed came in at the end of the meeting quite stiff with rage
about his brother-in-law having been arrested. He gets shrilly hysterical on these occasions. Really I dislike him
almost more than any of them here, he is so very conceited and utterly without humour. He is a mangy little man with
no appearance but gives himself great airs and is, I am sure, of the opinion that he is very handsome. He always
reminds me of a nursery governess wearing a shawl. Not in the least what one imagines an Arab Shaikh to be like. He
came over with me to Manama in my launch, came into the Customs and then departed, still in a fury. Ali bin Hussein
came round to tell me that he met Mohamed and had never before seen him in such a state. Dined with de Grenier,
Parke was there so with Jordan we had a four. I dislike dining with him as I suspect his kitchen arrangements, his cook
is a most unappetising looking Persian.

Wednesday [16 October]
The two sea planes were supposed to arrive at 10.15 but didnt come till nearly one. I had prepared lunch for six, only
two came and the others didnt come ashore till after sunset. Shaikh Mohamed came in the morning and rather
apologised for being so excited yesterday. Talked a lot of rot about the affair. I myself believe the man is guilty. Air
Commodore Burnett and Flight Commander Howe stayed with me, I put the other four to sleep in the Agency and fed
them here. These visits are a great bore but fortunately they dont drink much, in fact most of them drink nothing.
Mohamed Yatim called in the morning. He had just come back from Hassa on the mainland. He said they were sure
over there that Faisal al Derwish, the rebel chief, had been killed as they captured a slave woman who he always takes
round with him and she when she saw some of the bodies of the King's enemies, (King Ibn Saoud) she recognised
Faisals among them. It is so muddling that so many people have the same names. He also said that people said they
had seen Faisal's head, his seal and his hands and various bits of him so when I heard the real news from Burnett I was
very surprised. Apparently Faisal was never killed but two days ago he gained a very big victory from Ibn Saoud and
people now think that Saoud is done for. That will mean awful disorder on the mainland and all sorts of fighting over
there. It certainly is lucky that we are on an island. Apparently the Shaikh of Kuwait has thrown off his allegiance to
Ibn Saoud, to be on the winning side, and King Faisal, the King of Irak, Laurence's man, has been helping the rebels as
much as he can, though Ibn Saoud is an ally of Great Britain and Faisal owes his throne to us too. It is all
tremendously interesting but I am not sure what effect it will have on us here, commercially. Went to Mespers, too late
for tennis taking Burnett with me. Parke and D.G. came to dinner so there were nine. I sent for an old man who sells
pearls to come in after dinner and some of them bought a few. Rather a good idea. All the previous news from the
mainland was false and the dinner that the Negdis had here to celebrate the victory was quite without real reason. Of
course in a way I am sorry as Ibn Saoud has done a wonderful thing in organising and consolidating all Arabia. No
other man since Mohamed has done so much.

Thursday [17 October]

The aeronauts left at five, getting up at four. I felt rather seedy so took a day off, the first I have missed this year.
Went out for a drive with Parke in the evening and than to dinner with Zayani to meet Mohamed Ali, no other
Europeans there. Quite a good dinner and a full moon, v cool day.