Page 616 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Mohamed called. He is acting as Minister of Education while his brother, Abdulla, is away. He seemed very
tiresome about things and evidently wishes to be active on the subject. He proposed moving the headmaster
from Manama to Muharrak as things are doing well in the former place and badly in the latter place. I
suggested that it would result in both schools being spoilt but he didnt seem to agree. He is very pig headed
and very stupid and insufferably conceited. The schools have always given trouble ever since I had any
dealings with them, even now they are not on a really satisfactory footing. Played Bridge at D.G.s in the
evening and discussed his house. He has very few ideas of making it look nice for his bride. I should have
done it so very much better. Parke was the fourth. D.G. now wants to go up to Bagdad by the next boat as
his brother cant come down here or meet the lady.

Monday 1st December 1930

Court. Sulman did not appear, instead Shaikh Mohamed bin Ali who does nothing but yawn and finger his
watch to see when he can go. A useless member of the ruling family, like a good many others. Heavy rain
and very cold. Motored along the Budeya road as it cleared up in the afternoon. Lovely sunset. Prior, Parke
and Jordan came in. The car has been out of order for some time, something wrong with the starter. Dined
at the Hakkens, they had a fire which was quite necessary, nobody else there, quite pleasant as he had no
conversational chance of being tiresome. He is usually so very bigoted and narrow minded. He told me that
a man in the bazaar a Persian, had lately been underselling all the other makers of "kabobs", little bits of
meat on a skewer, and someone got rather suspicious so they had a look at his house. In a corner they found
a sack full of cats heads and cat skins!!! He also told rather an amusing story of the old Kadi Shaikh Jasim who
was called on by Zwemer, one of the Mission. He began a long discourse about the use and goodness of
doctors, then Zwemer mentioned that he was not a doctor but a missionary, the old man waived it aside and
said it was much the same and went straight on with his speech which had evidently been repaired. Another
time he came back hereafter being away some years and called on the Kadi. The Kadi professed to be
delighted to see him. Later the old man sent for a boy and whispered some message, a few minutes later he
told Z that he had written to him a letter of welcome as soon as he heard he had come back and as he said
this the boy brought in a letter saying that as Z had been out it had not been delivered. The letter was
written on the spot.

Tuesday [2 December]

Manama Biladya meeting. A lot of talk about a proposed new road, the Kozaibis are opposed to it and there
is a lot of feeling about it. Went to see the walls being built round the two cemetries afterwards. Then called
on the Sunni Kadi about the resignation of his brother kadi. Played golf with Prior in the afternoon. I rather
liked it. I have never played before. Dined at Mespers. Father Lamp the R.C. priest is staying there, a nice
little man very round and red faced and dapper. He is a really wonderful conjurer and did a lot of tricks, some
of them quite uncanny. Later on we played bridge. Very cold, M is wearing her fur coat and needs it too.
Prior came in to tea after golf. I think I should like the game if I played more. I shall get some clubs when I
am home.