Page 1141 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1139
1139
1940

Spent all the morning at the Agency as I acted as Prosecutor in the cultured pearl case. It took a long time as there
were many witnesses. There was no doubt about the case but I am quite sure that none of them understood what Cole
meant & he didn't understand what they said, however as the thing was certain, this did not worry me. I shouldn't care
to be tried by Cole if I was an Arab, I think they get a fairer deal in our court. In the afternoon I went to the Agency to
help Cole with a party for the sailors, they sat on the veranda & drank oceans of beer, later, after I had left, they got
very drunk & many were sick on the floor. I should never wish to have such a party myself. I find it very difficult to
make conversation with the sailors. Came back as two men from Lupin had called to arrange about a shooting match
between Lupin & Police on Thursday, Nixon & a young one. I never know their names. Discussed it all & settled
what to do, and then went to the Jebel for a Contract Bridge Drive at the Phillips. Took Metcalfe & Skrimshire out. It
was well done but I had the most unusually bad cards - & perhaps got bored with not calling & so overcalled - in any
case I never once scored a single time & sat in the same chair at the same table all the evening. They had supper later
after playing. Quite good, then they began to dance, I danced once with Mrs Phillips & then came home, even so it
was very late. Such an orgy of parties, this one was because Phillips had a birthday. It was quite well done really.

Wednesday [17th July]

In Court again but for not so long, then office & customs. Skrimshire came to see me at customs & discussed various
matters. A very busy morning & late getting done. Lots of people in & out of the office. Tennis in afternoon but
hardly anyone came owing to dinner at Shaikh's. The party was for Davies who leaves tomorrow. There wre mostly
oilies, Nixs, Boones, Morris & Weymouths, Cole & Metcalfe & Steele. The Shaikh gave Davies a bisht etc. Quite a
good party, the Shaikh very bright. Got home quite early & thankful not to have a late night. The Americans behaved
very well. Quite cool at the Palace. The Shaikh made Davies wear his arab clothes which were winter ones, so he was
simply dripping.

Thursday [18th July]

Fort. At Agency for half an hour then court, Shaikh Abdulla came over & we had a long talkk about municipal house
tax, a question arose about liability of tenants or landlords to pay. Cole now understands the question & agrees to what
we want. Office. Father Lamb is staying at the Agency. Cole wants to have a permanent RC priest here as the number
of people justifies this. Shooting competition on range with an eight sent from Lupin. They won - I expected that we
should. The Police got very nervous, sort of stage fright, and fired very wildly. One if not two of the ships men had
fired at Birley. Came home, changed & went to a big party at Sitrah, given by the Shenos, it was a Barbeque. Having
heard of it & never been to one I was interested. They had been bathing but I missed that - intentionally. They cooked
meat on a big open fire on a grid, the meat was very nasty, overcooked. Otherwise quite a pleasant party, later one or
two got drunk, when they adjourned to the club I went home & had a bathe at Abw Saidaan on the way. Hamood told
me that the servants & motor drivers were all drinking beer & whiskey all the time as nobody kept an eye on it but
when I arrived they were stalled & left off doing so.