Page 186 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

Very slack day in the office. Its a pity that Ramadan did not come later, the slack time would have been better in the hot
weather, now one doesnt need it. Spent a long time arranging things with the Dawasir Shaikhs. I personally consider the
return of the Dawasir is a great mistake, they oppressed their divers & the Bahrainis & were arrogant & truculent, but they
are more like Arabs than these people. Motored out to the Shaikh's in the afternoon in his new Studeloker, a large
comfortable car. He wanted to show me a letter from Bin Saoud, Sultan of Nejd, approving of the return of the Dawasir to
Bahrain, & also to discuss the question of their rights. He looks at it all in quite the wrong way considering that the
Dawasir are the oppressed prodigal sons, naturally they are all getting at him to grant them favours.

He was in good form & offered me two more silugi puppies. His house at Sakhrir is a poor place, just a big Arab house, but he
likes it best of all. The country looks lovely, high grass growing on the plain near Rafaa and masses of yellow & red coloured
ground plants that look quite lovely - but no flowers now.

Sunday 27th March

Quite a busy morning. Went over the Shaikh's accounts. Tennis with the Spences who came back here & played Bridge.
Mail arrived but we didnt get post till quite late.