Page 136 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

NEW YEARS DAY 1927

Didnt get up early to see the show before the Agency flagstaff. Shaikh Isa came in from Sakhrir, called at Agency &
then went back to Muharraq. Hamed & Abdulla & the whole family accompanied him. I went over later & saw them.
The discontented divers, about 300 strong, came here & stood about below the house rather angrily. Hamed
wouldnt see them & drove off to the Customs where I met him & took him round the new quay & works which he
looked at. Meanwhile the divers collected outside the Customs. Hamed came inside & we sat there for about two
hours. He decided to go back on the proclamation & to increase the "Tesquam". I suggested that he should tell
them, he said he wouldnt announce it till he had consulted merchants & others, he sent his servants out to tell the
crowd - bad policy he should have told them himself. Then he drove off, through the crowd which shouted at him.
I followed. Some of the fellows looked rather dangerous, all around with sticks. Sulman, of the Police, ran after
me saying that they were going to loot the market, knowing him to be a coward I didnt believe it & drove off round
the back of the town to the fort to see Parke about increasing police. Heard that the shops were being raided.
Drove straight down to the bazaar, found great state of excitement & people rushing round with sticks, went on
down to the customs & saw several boatloads of divers making off to Muharraq. Sent for Parke & Robinson & very
soon had the police on the scene. Great excitement & various people complained of their shops being robbed.
Finally went back & reported to Barrett. He, it appeared, was receiving all the merchants & people, was listening
to a speech saying how quiet & prosperous everything was when a messenger rushed in & said "The divers are
looting the bazaar!" Unfortunate! After tea Parke & I went over to Muharraq & called on Abdulla. People very