Page 525 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Motored in the afternoon. I am having a very easy time in the office, I like Ramadan, it means a real rest for
me.

Sunday 16th [February]

Office, Jordan came to see me. Motored along the Rafaa road taking the dogs and went off to the side
among the tombs looking for a hare but didnt put up anything, had quite a good walk before we drove home.
Mrs Pam and Walker came in after tea for Bridge. She plays well and is very steady. The Patric Stewart is in
the harbour on her way to fetch Ibn Saoud and to take him to Basra for his meeting with Faisal. There was an
idea that he was to come here but fortunately he is not coming, as it is he has bought up all the provisions in
the bazaar, I dont quite know why. The captain was ashore at the Agency.

Monday [17 February]

Fort before breakfast, beat some men. I seem to have a lot of beatings now a days. The Superintendent is in
a fuss again as he had a row with Prior's Punjabi bearer who seems to have met him in the bazaar and sauced
him. He was very excited about it. The man is an impudent looking fellow and does not have enough to do.
It seems that he also made impudent remarks to our ayah one day in the bazaar. Tiresome. Cold day and a
shamaal blowing. The Shaikh came in the afternoon to the Agency. I went across. He was looking very well
better than he has for some time. Ramadan seems to suit him. He looked very smart wearing a brown and
white striped bisht of a kind rarely seen here. Discussed the school affairs. He agreed that it would be quite
impossible to allow the two masters to return. Prior suggested a new committee but he seemed vague about
it, he hardly knew who the members were. When Prior pressed him he waved his hand at me saying "leave it
all to him, he will settle it all" very complimentary but not helpful. Its a way he has. He talked much about
Ibn Saoud who he referred to as that wonderful King, bunkum. Played tennis at the Mission, quite good
tennis. D.G. came in after the mission. Adham called after dinner, he is having a trying time as most of the
school trouble is aimed at him, they dont like him and suspect that he is not a Mohamedan, I think he is one
but not a "good" one, that is to say he doesnt bother much about the religion. A crowd of boys had been out
to call on the Shaikh the evening before and he was very full of the speech he made to them.

Tuesday 18th February
Spent most of the morning writing letters to the R.A.F. about the question of their paying customs, as usual
they want everything for nothing and were annoyed at having it suggested that they should pay. They treat
Bahrain exactly as if it was a British possession. Khalif one of Shaikh Hamed's sons, called, he is one of the
eight who the Shaikh doesnt care for and so gets treated rather badly, quite a nice youth, son of Ayesha. He
has a small daughter under a year old who has an Indian ayah in imitation of James. Ayesha is very devoted
to the child. Motored to Rafaa and back by the old road and then to the Bank for Bridge, Barden and Walker
were the four, very pleasant.