Page 496 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

494

1929

No meeting of the Muharraz Biladya as Shaikh Abdulla is away on the mainland hunting and getting a new wife, he
goes over there several times every year and generally gets a wife every time. He is the most married man in Bahrain
and must have divorced hundreds. Took Colonel Taylor over to Muharraz to see The Shaikh, having first written and
warned the Shaikh that he had come about the price of the Quarantine, which I thought should be Rs 15,000. The
Shaikh was splendid and played up well on my hint. He was very much the Shaikh. He began by mentioning an
amount a good deal higher than what I had asked and said that such an amount would be very cheap. Taylor pointed
out all the advantages which would come to the place through aviation and the Shaikh didnt seem wildly enthusiastic. I
could see Taylor looking more and more doubtful about his idea that it could be bought for less. Afterwards we went
out in the car across the plain to Hedd and into the town, where we got stuck in a narrow lane but eventually got out.
Came back by launch and then went over some papers in my office and then took Taylor round the town and pointed
out to him a number of plots that had been bought lately with their prices and areas. He was decidedly impressed and
said nothing more about my price being too high. In the afternoon I played tennis at the Agency and Marjorie had Mrs
Jordan and the wife of the Inspector of Education to tea, the latter looked rather a minx, a pity. One of the R.A.F. came
in to dinner to make a four at Bridge, a man called Fullarde, a gentleman and quite nice with a great many medals and
decorations. He was one of the old Flying Corps people and a very different type to these new ones. Had some very
good Bridge. Col Taylor played well. At the Agency Prior told me that Taylor had practically said that they would
buy the place at my price if the Air Ministry agreed. He had some objections to some of the clauses in the draft lease
of the aerodrome.

Wednesday [13 November]

Colonel Taylor left and the other aeroplane went off too. I gave him some plants to take with him, we have a few
things here which they have not got in Basra. I liked having him here. In the morning I had Jordan here and went over
the business of all the wiring and lights in the house, then the Customs and the Police Station. The Customs took a
long time as D.G. was so slow over it. Very hot in the sun. Got an anonymous letter about Ali bin Hussein the
secretary of the Biladya. Suspect it is from the ex secretary. Tennis at Mespers. Two of the Kozaibis called as they
are going to India. Prior and two of the R.A.F. came in to Mespers just after we had done tea, Prior told me what an
awful trip he had with them, they are extremly casual and very silly about things. Rather frigid atmosphere at Mespers.
Parke has gone out for a couple of nights to Rafaa to see parts of the island which are rarely visited.

Thursday [14 November]

Court. Abdel Latif the old Dawasir Shaikh who came back to Budeya occupied us most of the morning over his rows
with his sons. He was very rude and tried to beat one of his sons in Court. I am sorry for the old man as I dont think
he is all there. Court very long owing to his taking up so much of our time. In the afternoon we went a long motor
drive out to Ali to see the surveyors working and then back by a different way seeing some country that people hardly
ever cross. Parke came in, we had asked him and D.G. but D.G. had gone to Muharrak for the night. Really nice out
and so pleasant to find a new place to drive to. There are only about four roads in the island and they get very
monotonous.

Friday 15th November