Page 533 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Played roulette afterwards. D.G. got rather annoyed at being told that he could not stake heavy amounts
when he wished to do down the Banker, we had a limit which he seemed to dislike.

Sunday March 9th 1930

Very busy morning, lots of people in, tea at the Agency. We were to have played tennis there but it rained so
we went out for a short drive and then to tea and Bridge, Barden was the fourth. The boat came in but too
late to get the mail. Got a big budget of local anonymous letters, they love writing them here and I get some
every week almost. The Municipal elections have raised a big crop of them. Very strong shamaal.

Monday [10 March]

Court. Rather a long one so late for lunch, at the end we had an auction of leases of some date gardens in a
case. The murder case continued and was finished, they found the man guilty and he is to be executed
tomorrow. Prior sounded rather done in by it when he told me about it on the telephone. Sulman discussed
it, it has caused enormous interest in the place. Tennis at the Mission, rotten tennis and a horrid tea. Parke
came in on the way back. I heard from Prior that D.G. contemplated going to the execution and taking
photos of it, had few words with Parke and said he was not to be allowed to do so.

Tuesday [11 March]

Spent most of the day down in the town with Jordan seeing the bazaar lamp posts and various other electric
matters. Called on Mohamed Sherif who was very gloomy about trade prospects. Things are very bad this
year and there is no money about. Went to the Customs and sat there for some time with Parke and D.G. An
aeroplane came, the one that was on its way to Muscat. They had had to land at Dohar as short of petrol
owing to high wind. Cold day. Had a photo of my office staff taken in the afternoon. They seemed to enjoy
it very much. Some feeling about the seating, I left it all to them. Motored out towards Rafaa in the
afternoon and then Parke came in and also Prior. The murderer was shot in the morning, I did not attend,
there was a crowd of several thousands looking on. They love these occasions and treat them as a public
entertainment. All the schoolboys seem to have attended. I hope they took it as a lesson. They are very
morbid. D.G. did not go.

Wednesday [12 March]

Shaikh Abdulla called in the morning. Discussed the state of the schools. Things are not going well, the boys
refuse to return and the people are still very angry at our dismissing the masters. We had a long talk and
Abdulla saw some of the boys, myself I thought it unsuitable of him to pay any attention to them. Went
along to the Joint Court afterwards to see the Shaikh. He didnt seem to have much to say. I had written to
him suggesting that we should stop work on the sea road but he was very obstinate about it and wouldnt
hear anything of it. We have spent 12,000 rupees and our revenue is not coming in well. Saw various people
afterwards, the young Amir of Rafaa and others. Prior came in on his way back from Court. Parke and D.G.