Page 1703 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1700

1944

Fort. Decided to adopt new drill - in threes instead of fours. HH & Sh
A came in & before then Sh Mohd who wants to go to Egypt & to sell &
export his car to get cash for travelling. Sh S doesnt sympathise, like
Sh Hamed thinks nobody should wish to be anywhere but in Bn. Wakefield,
Smith & I did a tour of village shops, Budega, Suk al Kharnis & Hedd, all
seemed working well and many customers everywhere. Went into Agency
afterwards.

Had a dinner party, Gunns (3) Dixons, Snow BT, the last played the piano
for a long time very pleasantly & a nice choice of good music.

Mrs D expecting, fainted after dinner so they left early.

Sunday 16th May

Office, spent a long time making a comparative table of British
Officials' agreements, pay etc. Saw a young Shia Alim from religious
school who is proposed as a third Shia Kadi, seemed bright but young. Sh
Mohd called to ask about the permission to sell his car & export it, he
is not looking well & told me he is now 68. HH rang up in a fuss about
the new car selling ordinance and suggested - at the last minute, going
back to the old arrangement, had a long & difficult conversation with him
on 'phone - first time I have talked to him on it.

Manama Girls school H/m & husband came in afternoon.

Drove to Idari & back by Meni road, very dusty & rather hot.

Monday 17th May

Fort - court.

Another big smuggling case, Subah bin Abdulla of Hedd, a notorious
character. Gave him two years & his pals rather less. A long case, it
took most of the morning.