Page 654 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

652

1931

Manama Biladya meeting. Jordan attended to discuss the moving of the ice plant, it is going to be inside the Power House but
he advised them to make a sort of cold storage house in which to keep a supply as with only one engine it would be difficult to
keep up a regular supply of ice, as his proposition was expensive they declined to consider it this year. Quite a good meeting
and more to the point than usual. Two aeroplanes, at least flying boats, arrived on their way down to their island. Tennis at the
Mission in the afternoon, a cold day and looked very like more rain but none came. After tennis went round to D.Gs and saw
his figures for the Budget which are very reasonable. Bentley and three other R.A.F. men were at the Agency when I came
back, he brought me a very nice enlargement of a photo of Manama which includes our house, with a sea plane in the sky a
copy of the picture which the R.A.F. are presenting to the Shaikh, I had written and asked if he could let me have a small copy
of it but he gave me a big one. Cool weather, really very pleasant. The boat with the electric stuff for the extension to
Muharrak is due tomorrow.

Wednesday 25th March 1931

Didnt go across to the office but worked over here before breakfast. Afterwards had meeting between Shaikhs Abdulla and
Mohamed and the two secretaries of the Biladyas to discuss the electric business which we went into very thoroughly and
which they seemed to understand very well. Khalifah bin Sulman came in, a poisonous little man, I dislike him more than any
of the Khalifah except the Khalids. Steele came to see me. Got a reply from Shaikh about Shaikh Khalaf and so wrote to him
saying he must live in Manama and must not do the Friday prayer which is liable to stir people up. Went to the office in the
afternoon, Fahad al Bassam came in and also the one eyed mullah with some material for me for my history copied out of an
old book, I was very pleased to get it. Played singles with Prior in the afternoon and then went along to see Walker. He wants
to go home by Irak on the same boat as I do so if so we will travel all the way together, it would be nice as I like him, but
rather a responsibility as he is a very sick man. Barden and Steele came in. They were talking about the new people coming to
Mespers, she, the daughter of an Austrian general who used to be Financial Adviser to Persia before the War, they had a great
deal of money and lived in some state in Teheran entertaining all the Diplomatic people, but the father died lately leaving no
money and only debts so she married this man in Mespers, she is quite nice according to what people say, probably much
better class than the ordinary run of Mespers wives, their name is Russell.

Thursday [26 March]

Court, the Yatim case, we sent for four members of the Meglis Urfi and in their opinion Ali bin Khalifah had no case so we
have referred it back to the whole Meglis and their opinion will undoubtedly be the same. Went along the new Sea Road after
lunch with Mohamed Khalil, it is coming on by degrees but very slowly, quite hot in the sun, a west wind. Then played tennis,
Barden and the doctor made up the four. Parke came in at tea time and stayed till dinner time almost. Warm day as the
shamaal has stopped blowing.

Friday 27th March 1931

Hot day, south wind. Went down the bazaar in the morning, very few people about and the whole place looking very dead.
Then to the Bank for Bridge. Prior went out sailing. A little rain in the morning early but it made no signs on the roads.
Tennis in afternoon. The Jordans did not come as she is said to have dysentry.