Page 713 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1932

M left in the morning before breakfast. A nasty rough day, it always seems to be when she has to go out to the boat, most
disagreable. The boat sailed quite early and I came back for breakfast. In the afternoon I called on Shaikh Abdulla the Shia
Kadi and stayed there a long time, he was very pleasant and intelligent and I quite enjoyed my visit to him, there was nobody
else there. Dined with Prior, had a lot to talk about so stayed rather late.

Tuesday 19th April 1932

Office opened again after the Eid holidays. Very busy morning, had a huge number of letters to look through. Abdu Ali
called, mainly I think to remind me that I had not called on him for the Eid. Said I would. Called on him in the afternoon in
his room in the garden, a very pleasant place and quite clean, there were several other people there, Baharna, as usual they
talked about the condition of the Baharna before the time of the present Government. Went into the Biladya garden afterwards,
it looks quite nice and there are a lot of very fine stocks out but not in a part that shows much, there were heaps of people there
and quite a number of prams. The animals looked rather as if they were feeling the heat.

Wednesday [20 April]
Fort and then Police Station. Looked over the bungalow again. Later I got a letter from Haenggi asking if it would be possible
for him to lease it from the Government, replied that it would not but it might be possible to lease the Steeles house should I
move them to the Fort, I think I shall let him have the chance as it does seem a pity not to save the rent and also the Shaikh
may have some idea about it which would not be suitable. Investigated a case about a young woman who said she was
decoyed into a house near the Oil Coy's house, it all sounded very fishy but as no harm was done it is not very serious. I think
she went of her own accord, they usually do. The Shaikh came in thinking there was a Joint Court, which there was not, so he
came along to the office and stayed till ten oclock then Abdulla bin Jabr came in and told him I had not had any breakfast so he
went, but took about a quarter to an hour to go. Shaikh Khalaf came to call while he was there, the Shaikh made him sit in the
office and ignored him for a long time talking to me, did him good I am sure, he wants to go to Iraq and get his family. I am
all for his going and should like to refuse to let him in again. Talked to the Shaikh about the area applied for by Holmes for the
oil business, he did not seem very interested but agreed that Om al Hassan, Essex Point, was Government ground. He seemed
to be relieved at the idea of the Refinery being so far from Sakhrir, any inconvenience to Manama, which after all is the capital,
does not interest him in the least. He is going off again to the end of the island, I suppose to get on with his building there.
Hot day, I took a siesta in the afternoon and then motored out with Seyed Ahmed to see some mosques that are to be repaired.
Warm day but very gray. I think I shall have to change to thin clothes before my date which is end of April.

Thursday [21 April]

Fort. Tackled the Superintendent about a letter from a man we sacked who said he was owed Rs 100. He denied it and as the
man left two years ago and has written since about some pay I dont think it can be proved. Police Station where I had some
work but no big cases. I had D.G. in yesterday and had a long talk about finances, he took the cut very well, didnt mention it
from his personal point of view. Saw Steele and told him I would let him live at the Fort pro tem if he cared to, he asked for
time to consider it. I explained that it was only a temporary arrangement. Very busy morning. Went to Ein al Hakim meaning
to bathe but saw a car there so returned to Idari and had a very nice bathe, nobody there. The dogs had a great run on the