Page 698 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

696

1932

Thursday [25 February]

Court. Cooler day, a shamaal blowing, really very nice weather, I wish it was always like this. In the court till two
oclock, a lot of tiresome cases. Parke sent a man down as a recruit for the Police who had a fit in the office, so not a
very good selection. Gardened in the afternoon, the garden is beginning to look very bright and full of flowers but
none of the trees have any leaves on them owing to the violent winds we had earlier on in the winter so they look rather
bare, even those that are supposed to be green all the year. In the afternoon, later, we went to a party at Holmes, first
tea and then Bridge and then a hot supper, bacon and eggs and fruit tarts, really very good, there were seventeen people
there and a very lively show. He is very good at entertaining and gives very good parties. I did well at Bridge and had
some good games.

Friday [26 February]

Abdulla bin Jabr, the Shaikh's confidential steward came round to see me in the morning to tell me that Shaikh Isa had
been taken very ill last night and Dr Dame had gone over in the night and the Shaikh had gone to Muharrak at dawn,
but that he had got much better and was more or less recovered this morning. Later on I got a letter and a similar
message from Shaikh Abdulla, he was very bad apparently and as he is said to be about ninety people were very
excited. He costs us Rs 60,000 a year so it interests me very much financially, politically he is also important and as
long as he is alive his old wife is a factor to be reckoned with, and always against Shaikh Hamed, her stepson. Went
along to see Dr Dame after breakfast to hear all about it, and then for a drive with the dogs. We met the Steeles and
their little boy and Dr Holmes out at Essex point. Lovely day but getting to feel rather warm in the sun in the morning.
If Shaikh Isa dies things will improve a lot as the revenue will not have to bear his huge salary.

Saturday February 27th 1932

Court, very late as I had a lot of big cases. Motored in the afternoon, Abdu Ali bin Rajab called in the evening and
stayed some time until I had to leave to dress as we dined with the Steeles. Quite a pleasant party. Prior and the two
naval men were there, they had a good dinner and afterwards Bridge.

Sunday 28th [February]

Office in morning, very busy. Tennis tea and Bridge here, after dinner the Shia Kadi Shaikh Abdulla came to call and
stayed till eleven oclock. He was very interesting and gave me a lot of information which I was glad to have about the
position of various people in local politics. He also told me all about a case which someone is making against the ex
Kadi Shaikh Khalaf, they compromised it apparently and then the Kadi refused to agree to the compromise and denied
it.

Monday [29 February]