Page 553 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

building. Walked solemnly round to the door where we found about sixty of the leading people of the town
and the Municipal Council assembled. The Shaikh shook hands with everyone and then opened the very
handsome silver padlock on the door with a silver key. It was a nice thing, made in Bombay and sent up by
the Company, with date and suitable remarks on it. Everyone went in and sat down at one end of the
building. A longish speech was made on behalf of Jordan by his Arab clerk. Unfortunately there was no
proper reply as Ali bin Hussein the Municipal Secretary, was ill and we had not been able to provide a
substitute. The Shaikh then went up onto the platform above one of the two engines and turned a handle
and without the slightest fuss the engine slid into motion and the lights in the place lit up, faintly at first but
gradually growing more brilliant, there was much applause and excitement, outside they had rows of electric
lights outlining the building which looked very effective, just like the front of a cinema. After coffee and tea
the Shaikh and the people departed, we stayed on some time looking at the engine. Afterwards we drove
through the bazaar and then back to dress for the dinner party at the Jordans. It was quite a pleasant show,
a very good dinner and champagne. Prior came very late and left at once after dinner which annoyed people
rather. Played roulette afterwards, I am very tired of it as a game, no play in it. Parke behaved rather badly
and yawned all the time and when they talked of roulette he said how much he would have liked Bridge, as it
happen his being there made an extra man so Bridge would have been awkward. Stayed till after half past
twelve. Quite a good party. The Shaikh's expression was delightful as he turned on the light, he looked just
like a small boy who is allowed to play with a dangerous engine, he did it very well and the whole show was a
great success. I win ten rupees as I had a bet with Bienenfeld ... would be on before June, and it has been.

Monday 12th May 1930

I had not been to call on old Shaikh Isa during the Eid. I really thought I would give it a miss but I heard that it
was much remarked upon so went across early in the morning before breakfast to call on him. Took with me
my old head clerk Haji Seggar and Saleh. Sent a message from the quay to say I was on my way up. He
received me in an inner courtyard in his house. He was really quite amiable though as usual he made no
remarks and didnt seem to find any that I made of any interest. A nephew, or relation of sorts, called Ahmed
bin Ali was there, a dreadful young man with one eye all queer about as big as a tennis ball. He is very rich
but old Ayesha deals with all his money and behaves as if it was her own. He was quite silent all the time and
had probably been put there by the old lady to hear what I said. Stayed about half an hour and then left.
The old man looks very much the same as he did four years ago, perhaps rather more frail. It is a pity he is so
long lived. Came back and took a court with Sulman. Motored in the evening. It is very nice to have the
lights and fans, before when we had lamps it was impossible to open many windows as the lamps always
blew about, now we can have them all open in safety. Hot damp day. The news from the short season from
the pearl banks is very bad, about a quarter of the catch that they got last year.

Tuesday 13th [May]

Did not go to the Biladya meeting at Muharrak as I meant to spend all the morning at the Annual Report, but
The Shaikh arrived at about eight oclock and kept me till half past ten, then eventually I got breakfast. It was
about some Arabs from Dohar who came to Bahrain, actually they are Bahrain subjects. The Shaikh of Dohar,