Page 527 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Saturday [22 February]

Fort in the morning. Parke is due on the 5th and I shall be glad to have him back, we hear he had a bad
motor accident and probably for that reason has come out by sea. Office, quite a busy morning. Various
people came to see me. Warm day and no wind. Went out to the Quarantine in the afternoon to see how
they have got on with the repairs, it looks very different and quite a nice place to live in now. Couldnt get on
with my painting so started a new one of the same subject. Bin Hindi came in, he is a fine looking old man.
He tells me that the Bombay market is still at a stand still, nobody has sold their pearls, a great pity and a
serious thing for Bahrain. The other day I had in Ali Kanoo and sounded him about the possibility of raising a
loan of six lacs for doing the sea road across to Muharrak island, he said it was quite out of the question this
season as most of the people had not the money to finance their boats this year. I am afraid we are going to
have trouble later on when the time comes for making advances. A shortage of money always seems to
mean more crime and botheration. I have one plant of rhubarb in the garden doing very well, it was sown
from seed. Hope it will grow.

Sunday 23rd February

Various people came to see me, the young son of the Amir of Rafaa who has been appointed in his father's
place, very oppressed and solemn by being now Amir, the sons of Abdel Latif the Doseri shaikh who said their
father was in his dotage and they wanted the Govt to take over his estates, all quite untrue, and various
others. Motored out in the afternoon with the dogs and went over to the Agency for a few minutes. Shaikh
Abdulla called and stayed for a couple of hours talking, very lively and amusing, he compared the ways of
Arab women and Europeans, he said that Arabs couldnt understand any woman going out, say, in a car with a
man unless for unsuitable purposes, and every girl from ten years old thought of nothing but marriage, and a
good deal else.

Monday 24th February

Various callers in the morning, Jordan, Ali bin Hussein and others. We are arranging to have a new election
of the Manama Municipality. It will annoy some people very much especially those people who will not be
elected again. Violent wind storm in the afternoon after a queer heavy morning. Drove out to Rafaa with
the dofs. Bridge at D.Gs, Walker made the fourth, good games. After dinner Prior came over with telegrams
for the Shaikh and Isa from Ibn Saoud saying that he proposed landing at ten in the morning to pay a visit to
Shaikh Isa, in Manama, and asking that all arrangements should be made as he couldnt waste time,
altogether a very premptory message. Sent for Abdulla bin Jabr, the Head of Police and various other people
and made all arrangements about guard of honour, salutes etc. Both Prior and I are very annoyed at the
prospect of the visit. The Shaikh had sent in the same time asking me to telegraph an invitation to him to
come to lunch, apparently forgetting all about Ramadan. I had not sent it.

Tuesday 25th [February]