Page 52 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1926

Friday [11th June]

Lazy day. Wrote to Parke, one of the men interviewed at home, friend of Uncle Dacres, asking him if he was still
prepared to accept job of Levy Corps officer. He was the only one, except Kennett, who would do, & I don't for a
moment think Kennett would take it after having got thoroughly settled out in Nigeria - though there are no people I
would like more to have here than Austen & Daphne. Played tennis at Daly's in the afternoon. Played awfully badly.
The usual people there - they become decidedly monotonous. Hot evening, very moist, but quite a cool day.

Saturday [12th June]

Court in the morning. The Sheik came in to see the malcontents who petitioned against the new laws. A very big
crowd collected. We ought to have had a section of Levy Corps down for the occasion to impress the people - but
forgot till it was too late. Interviewed the leading Shia notables & then the heads of villages. The Sheikhs had a
speech read to them, purporting to be his - actually composed by Daly. Finally got in the ringleaders & made them
sign a paper promising never to take part in petitions or similar doings. The Sheikh was really rather nervous at the
crowd who had collected. Arabic lesson in afternoon. M went out to tea with the wife of Abdel Rahman al Zayani,
one of the leading pearl merchants, & a very nice fellow. He sent a very fine car to collect her. Mrs Hakken & Miss
Dalenburg went with her, & on arrival they found a jewish woman, who talked English, two native nurses from the
hospital, and three old women who were probably sent over by the old queen from Muharraq. It seems to have been a
very nice house, beautifully clean, & quite a nice tea, & a very pleasant hostess - though of course she spoke no