Page 492 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

490

1929

them, after the first introduction when he howled. Barden called. Went along and called on the Strakers in the
evening, walked as I had lost the key of the garage with the car inside. Went over to the Agency till dinner time to hear
about the news in the down mail. The Persians have very much changed their tune and the whole business of the
Bahrain claim is now a matter of bargaining between Persia and Great Britain. Saw a very interesting dispatch on the
subject. Confirmation of all Ibn Saoud's reverses. We are apparently going to give him some assistance. Got a letter
from Barrett. He is not coming down here. Nice cool weather.

Wednesday [30 October]

Pearl case. We had in Bienenfeld and Ben Simon, we expected the matter to take about half an hour but it lasted till
the end of the morning. We are both convinced that the man is guilty and that he is a liar. I had been going out with
Shaikh Mohamed but had to put him off. Aeroplane arrived with Burnett and Howe. The Shaikh sent for me early in
the afternoon. He seemed to be worried about his health and wanted to have a consultation between Holmes and
Dame, at which I was to be present. He certainly looked very seedy. Talked over some business with him. Mespers in
the afternoon. Burnett came to call. Dinner with the Shaikh. M went to dine with Ayesha so I took her there first and
picked her up on the way back. They asked me in. Ayesha had her little grand-daughter there a little girl of three
months old, very pretty healthy looking baby who is being brought up in English ways and certainly looks very
different to the ordinary Arab children. Ayesha looked very well and beautifully dressed. Went over to the Agency
after we got back, sat and talked to Howe and Burnett.

Thursday [31 October]

Court. Went over to the Agency before breakfast for half an hour. The sea plane left in the morning. Shaikh Sulman
had heard a rumour that there was fighting at Tharan on the coast about seventeen miles away, across the sea. I rather
doubt it but people on this island said they had heard firing. The Shaikh came round in the afternoon very agitated at
the idea of a Bolsevik trading boat arriving. There is one in the Gulf. I had talked to him before and he didnt seem
very interested so we got Jasim Kanoo on the subject and he was very disturbed at the idea and rushed off to the Shaikh
who came down to see me about it in the middle of the afternoon. Quite neatly done. Took out James for a drive in the
motor in the afternoon, went to the gardens. Lots of locusts about still. They have done a lot of harm. The Strakers
came in to see him bringing John, it was very nice seeing them together. John is just over two, a very attractive little
boy. Dined with Rashid bin Mohamed, a pleasant little party only about half a dozen people but very nice. Afterwards
we went to The Customs and played Bridge with D.G. and Parke. Parke is a most insufferable person to play with.

Friday St. November

Went to the Bank in the morning and played Bridge. The Shia Kadi and Abdu Ali bin Rejab called in the afternoon
and I went with them to the Agency. He is a comic little man and very shy. He didnt talk much at the Agency except
on the subject of wakfs, most unfortunately they got onto the subject. Prior was very dense about it, he might have had
the sense to steer clear of it. Went out in the car in the afternoon. Called on the Holmes when we got back. Lovely
weather now, cool and sunny. Soon I suppose we shall have rain. The well which is being bored opposite the house
with great noise has at last yielded quite a good water supply. No tennis at the Agency, I expect the reason is that