Page 676 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

674

1931

Got up rather early as the funeral was supposed to start from the Pier at eight oclock, actually they were very much later. All
the chief Arabs appeared there and the white population, men at least. It was a very impressive affair, about 150 men came
ashore off the ship with a Marine band and the procession passed right along the Sea Road up the town to the Christian
cemetery at the back of Manama. There were about thirty cars following, I went in the first car with Shaikh Sulman,
representing the Shaikh, and the Indian Assistant representing the Agency, then de Grenier and the other officials and the chief
local Arabs. The band played the Dead March which I noticed affected some of the Arabs so much that they sobbed, we had
naturs lining the roads and all the Police lined up near the cemetery, there were thousands of people looking on and dense
crowds near the cemetery. Parke marched in front as a guide, in uniform and all the officers wore full dress uniform which
looked very impressive, I wore my tail coat and London clothes and a topi. As soon as it was over the ship sailed. I suppose it
will be in all the papers at home. Went to a party at the Mission in the afternoon but first took the dogs out for a run, the party
was pretty awful, the usual sort of tiresome games, a sort of glorified hide the thimble. After all I never went on board the
ship, I had been going to the tea party on Monday and also to dinner in the Ward Room but of course all that was put off on
account of the disaster. Dined with Major Holmes in order to discuss the menu for our party and to decide where people were
to sit, in this place a very serious matter!!

Wednesday [23 December]

Busy day in the office, drafted a new proclamation about fish traps and various other things. In the afternoon we had our usual
tennis party, it was very cold and a shamaal wind blowing. We had one table for Mah Jong which was a great success. M's
mother sent us out a set as a Xmas present.

Thursday, Christmas Eve
Court. Painted menus for our dinner party and then went to tea with the Russells and played Bridge till 8.30. They had a sort
of Christmas party and all the white people were there. Very cold day, really suitable weather.

Christmas Day

A perfectly horrible day, icy cold wind and no sun, I have never known such a nasty day here, everyone felt simply frozen. In
the morning the usual trays of fruit and sweets arrived from the merchants and various people came to call and give their good
wishes. Went to church at the Mission, I have never seen such a big congregation, all the native Christians and the English
people and also several Arabs, everyone wondered why they had come. Afterwards we and the de Greniers went up to the
cemetery to put some flowers on Heinemann's grave and then we all went to the Fort for a while. After dinner very busy
arranging for the party, finishing off the menus and decorating the table. Dr and Mrs Holmes came in to tea and he helped me
to arrange for the game we were to play after dinner. It was icy weather and we had a huge fire but even so very cold indoors.
Holmes arrived at about seven oclock before we dressed and we sampled the cocktails which were made by his boy. M wore
her black velvet dress and a long gray fox fur which arrived from her mother as a present, and diamond brooch, pendant and
ear rings. It was a very successful party and went with a good swing, we had 18 people, men and women, equal numbers of
each which is very unusual here. The dinner was really excellent, first cocktails, the kind with an egg in them, then grape fruit
flavoured with Kummel, then clear soup, fish pie, turkey and hot roast ham, we had two large turkeys, then plum pudding and