Page 627 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

625

1931

longer, twenty years ago the then Political Agent wrote to Government of India that Shaikh Isa was getting very old
and would not live much longer, he is still going strong. On his way back The Shaikh came in here and had his
photograph taken again in his best ceremonial clothes which he was not wearing when he had it taken before. Motored
up to the top of the Rafaa hill in the afternoon. Prior came in and then Parke.

Friday 2nd Jan 1931

Didnt go to the Bank as we were all invited to luncheon on the French ship, the Diana. She used to belong to an
Englishman and was a private yacht, later she belonged to the French coloniser Martial Lyauty who did so much in
North Africa. The boat is quite small and rather shabby looking but the accommodation is very good, a fine big sitting
room and a large dining room and very fine cabins for the Admiral and his chief of staff. They had quantities of things
in them collected on the voyage, carpets and brass and some lovely stuff from Persia. The lunch was very good but
rather too large, most excellent prawns. There were about four kinds of wine including sweet champagne. They were
all very pleasant. It was absolutely calm so quite nice going out and back and on the boat itself. All of the officers
speak a certain amount of English, some quite well. Dr Tiffany was there, the D.Gs and Parke, Barden Prior and
Walker. They had rather a nice little gazelle on board and a silugi from Shiraz. When we got back we had tennis on
our court as the posts for the net at the Agency had broken and then went over to the Agency for tea and Bridge. The
Diana sailed soon after we left her and is going down to Muscat. The French officers seem much less formal than our
English ones and there doesnt seem to be so much appearance of discipline. I talked a little french but find I can
remember nothing though I can understand quite easily.

Saturday [3 January]
Court. A delegation of pearl merchants came in to protest at the Government's action in the matter of the "tesquam"
advance. Sulman and I saw them and listened to them for some time without giving any definite reply. Shaikh
Abdulla came with them and I had a few words with him before we saw them. I cant make out his line in this affair. I
think he is encouraging the merchants but he as usual was very non committal. He is very crafty. I stopped smoking
for a week from New Year's Eve. Motored in the afternoon. The D.Gs called and Parke came in too. D.G. seemed a
shade less sulky than before Kozaibi was one of the merchants who came and he did most of the talking.

Sunday [4 January]

Office all the morning. The battery of the car is out of order so we couldnt go for a drive, walked along the Sea Road
instead, the Manama Muharrak road, it is getting on well, there were about 30 boats of stone on it. Barden and Walker
came to play Bridge after tea.

Monday [5 January]