Page 653 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

651

1931

Saturday 21st March 1931

Court, I didnt sit as I had such a lot of work but Parke acted for me. Shaikh Abdulla came in about some business and a lot of
other people. Very busy morning. Jordan came to see me, very bouncing as usual. Went out to Sakhrir in the afternoon, the
south wind changed and turned into a strong shamaal so coming back it was quite cold. Got a lot of business done with the
Shaikh, I followed Abdulla's car all the way out and we arrived together. He had a big Meglis as usual, nobody of any
consequence but a lot of very "shenzi" looking Arabs. The Shaikh talked of England and was really very amusing without
meaning to be, he got rather muddled at times and made the most amazing statements. Then we moved into the other Meglis,
he signed the proclamation saying that people who gave credit to Govt officials did so at their own risk, talked about Prior and
the electric light and both the Shaikh and Abdulla agreed that they had never heard the machine and his objection was absurd.
Then we went out down the road some way and two camels raced, a poor show to my mind as I have seen many much faster
ones elsewhere, then drove home. A very strong shamaal and the sea coming up over the sea road, cold night. The mail came
in, a very poor one for me. Seven passengers, English, came off the boat but couldnt get back as it was so rough, I didnt see
them, they were people going home from India overland D.G. came to see me in the morning to talk about Jordan landing his
stuff at Muharrak, we drafted a letter to him, D.G. evidently means to make everything as difficult as possible for him. A pity
they dislike eachother so much.

Sunday [22 March]

Cold day and a very strong shamaal, people have begun fires again. Office, Jordan and Ali bin Hussein came to see me with
plans of the proposed ice house, but as it costs Rs 8,000 I know the Biladya will not take it up. A lot of people came to see me
in the morning and in the afternoon the two Shia Kadis and Abdu Ali and the one eyed mullah from Senobis all to talk about
Shaikh Khalaf who they wish to be prevented from saying the Friday prayers which are the prerogative of the Kadi. They
stayed a long time and afterwards I went out driving and then to the D.Gs to play Bridge. Parke made the fourth, Walker is
very ill again and at last he has asked to be relieved, a man called Russell from Bundar Abbas is coming to act for him but I
think only for the time being, he has a wife who is the daughter of an Austrian General who lived many years in Persia.

Monday [23 March]

Court, the Mohamed Yatim case and the Siadi case, both took a long time so I didnt get back for lunch till after two oclock,
fortunately Prior was equally late as he was on a murder case which has taken up a lot of his time lately, the murder happened
about three months ago, the Agency are very slow in their cases, we polish off a murder in no time. Went to sleep in the
afternoon and later on after tea went to the Fort for Bridge, the D.Gs were there, cold weather again, everyone has a fire in the
evening. The weather this year has been behaving very queerly.

Tuesday [24 March]