Page 757 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Rashid bin Mohammed, one of the Shaikh's nephews, died in the morning, consumption. The Shaikh was at
Muharraq last night. After breakfast I went with the Shaikh to the Palace where the Captain called on him,
the Shaikh was very bored & only interested in the news of the Persian fleet, which is said to have arrived at
Muscat, then I went out with him in his launch to return the visit. The ship was very close in and not
moving at all. Rather a boring visit. We had no salutes owing to Rashid's death, just as well as the Captain
in the afternoon said that the Shaikh was only entitled to 5 guns whereas he gets seven. In the afternoon
the Captain & the doctor came to tennis & we had several other people in, Kozaibi and the KB called.
Kozaibi showed me the very big pearl which he is taking to Paris, it is the biggest found here for many years,
as big as a pigeon's egg, but round, but the colour is not very good. It weighs 217 chows & he paid about
£3000 for it, other years it would have fetched six times the amount. Mrs Skinner & Mrs de Grenier arrived
on a Strick boat direct from England.

Monday 24th [October]

Police, Court, Siadi case & some others. Went to dinner on the Bideford, rather a dull entertainment but
good Bridge. Denison has the reputation of looking after himself very well but except for having caviare the
dinner was not extra good. Ham and the doctor & D.G. were the party & the Captain & two officers. None
of the others appeared. We sat on the deck before dinner & played Bridge inside. Played Contract. The
ship leaves tomorrow.

Tuesday 25th October

The Shaikh sent a very nice sword to James as a present, a real sword with a gold and silver scabbard. He
was rather indignant at not being allowed to play with it - as it would be very dangerous. He has another
one which Shaikh Abdulla gave him when he was small & they, with two of mine, are hung up in the hall &
look very handsome. Went over to see Shaikh Abdulla in Muharraq, we missed eachother as I went to the
house & he came to the Municipal building to see me. Discussed the Persian question & possibilities if the
Persian fleet comes here, also school affairs and the question of mainland trade & the boat that is coming
here. Bahrain is the entrepot for the mainland & now, for the first time some Nejdi merchants living here
are sending boats direct from India to the mainland which hits us badly so we are going to fight it by
forbidding them to land any cargo here unless transit custom is paid on their mainland cargo. Its a serious
matter because if we lost the customs on the imports to the mainland we should lose a third of our already
diminished revenue. Prior is not coming back till next down mail as he missed the boat at Bushire.
Motored in the afternoon, its very damp now at night & early morning, we have come down from the roof
& sleep on veranda.

26th October [Wednesday]

Fort, office all the morning, very busy. In afternoon we had our usual At Home, quite a crowd of people
came. The court was very good & we had some quite good tennis, afterwards Bridge. The people seem to
enjoy coming. We had two Bridge tables & put them in the new part of the drawing room which is divided