Page 666 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

664

1931

which local custom is involved, as usual they have got slack and instead of appearing send their clerks and poor relations
which is no good. Prior sent a complaint to the Shaikh about it, the Shaikh finally after much discussion told me to hold a
special session and talk to them about it but gently. Came back and took the Court. Warm day, much too hot for the time of
year. Went down to the pier in the afternoon to meet Mrs Parke who arrived on the mail boat, she looked very well. Alban,
who once acted as Political Agent here, was on board too and came ashore, with a young man in the Standard Oil Coy from
Karachi, by name Low. Motored them along to the Agency but as they found Prior very busy with the mail they came back
here and had tea and then as Prior didnt turn up we took them out for a drive in the car and then looked in at Mespers to find
out about when the boat sailed and then to the D.Gs where we played Bridge. Alban was on his way from Muscat to Bushire
going up to accompany the Resident on his tour of the Gulf, "The Circus" as they call it, this time he has chartered one of the
mail boats and is going round on her with a sloop as escort with the Senior Naval Officer in tow. Alban seemed very well and
I was glad to see him, he told me a lot of gossip about Muscat, there is no Adviser there now, the Sultan's young son is doing
everything and working very well apparently, he even cuts down his father's pay, the father is threatening to abdicate and
spends all his time racing in India. From all accounts Thomas behaved abominably, everyone I meet has a worse story about
him, he did nothing and lost all the money that the State had collected.

Sunday 22nd [November]

Called on Shaikh Abdulla the Shia Kadi in the morning. He has made quite a nice little garden in his courtyard and I promised
to send him some seeds. He was very interesting and told me all about the political position on the mainland, also a lot of local
news about the real truth of various things that had happened while I was on leave. I stayed there quite a long time. He is a
funny little man, very pale and light complexioned with a big white turban and a black beard, really extremly intelligent and I
feel that he talks to me very freely, he is quite youngish but has a manner far older than he really is. Steele came in afterwards
and we discussed various electric business. Gardened in the afternoon, put in some more seeds and then went for a drive round
to Jafair and then to Essex Point, it was looking very pretty there after sunset, the sea a lovely pink and yellow reflected from
the sky and the two islands, all covered with date palms looked like what one imagines the South Sea Islands are like,
silouetted against the sunset. Met Major Holmes in his very smart new two seater car, he came in after for a drink and while he
was there the Parkes came in to call and stayed till almost dinner time. Very hot damp day, not at all what one expects in
November, a lot of mosquitoes about. One of the bulbs I have planted in pots is showing green.

Monday [23 November]

Court in the morning. No cases of any interest, motored in the afternoon.

Tuesday [24 November]

Went across to Muharrak in the morning to attend the meeting of the Municipal Council, I arrived there rather late only about
five minutes before the end of the meeting, Shaikh Abdulla came across to Manama in my launch so I was able to talk to him
about the business which I had to discuss with the Meglis. Muharrak is coming on, there are several new buildings along the
sea road since I was away. The boat arrived in the afternoon with William Morland, our guest from England, he was brought
ashore by the doctor, a plain very red faced young man with rather an assured manner, but thoroughly a gentleman, Wellington