Page 691 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1932

Thursday 4th [February]

Had a meeting of a number of local Arabs to explain to them the Government's object in the proclamation, I hope they were
satisfied but I rather doubt it. Unfortunately they were mostly rather young men and as they said it is the old people who are
distrustful of innovations. Gardened in the afternoon and then went for a drive. A dinner party at the Bank, fourteen people,
very rowdy and rather disagreable, from there we went to the Agency where we danced till half past one. Some of the people
got quite beyond a joke. I cant imagine what people like the Dalys would think of Bahrain in these times with endless cocktail
parties and very rowdy dinners and dancing at the Agency all night, it has altered beyond recognition this year. Now that the
Russells have gone it wont be so "bright" which will be really a great relief.

Friday Feb 5th 1932

Took a drive in the car in the morning and after lunch sat in the garden which is the warmest place these days in the afternoon
as it is still quite cold weather and when there is a wind it is very cold. Afterwards went to the Agency, played tennis and after
tea had Bridge. Everybody seemed very cross and obviously feeling the after effects of last night. We walked down the bazaar
in the morning and looked at some carpets but they asked absurd prices for them. Mrs Russell and Mrs Schindler left in the
morning on a Strick boat going home direct.

Saturday [6 February]

Saw another deputation about the Proclamation, mostly merchants from Muharrak and Hedd, they were very angry and
obstinate and would listen to no reason but I talked and argued with them for about an hour. Also saw a mullah from
Muharrak who I encouraged in complaints against the Kadis which will serve as a counter attack as the Kadis are themselves at
the back of all this trouble. Went out to Budeya in the afternoon and looked at the Police post out there. Holmes came in after
tea and then Abdulla bin Jabr with a long message from the Shaikh who had been approached by a deputation of about thirty
persons and after giving them a good stiff reply became scared and sent in to me suggesting that he should take down the
proclamation, I talked for a long time to Abdulla and then had dinner and went over to see Prior after dinner, we had Abdulla
in and sent back messages to the Shaikh telling him it would be madness to cancel the order just because of some fuss. The old
man really is maddening, he is afraid of his own shadow and if anyone shows any opposition he always looks for the way out
and never takes a strong line. The whole fuss is being put up by certain people who are actually in charge of money of orphans
and widows and who have misappropriated it and now fear that Government will punish them for it.

Sunday [7 February]

Very busy day in the office as we are closing for several days for the Eid at the end of Ramadan. Saw a great many people and
took some cases. Prior went out to see the Shaikh in the afternoon, we went out for a drive with the dogs to the Aali plain but
saw no hares. After tea de Grenier came in and later on Russell and Prior looked in just before dinner to report on his call on
the Shaikh. Had various people in to see me after dinner and had a lot of reports from the Police and others, sent messages to