Page 733 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1932

it, so I had him arrested. A lot of people came in to see me including Russell and Holmes. In the afternoon I went with Haji
Sulman by launch to Hedd, after some time in the Police Station, it was a long trip but very nice as soon as the sun got low,
though very hot early on. We had to wade a longish way getting ashore and landed in the middle of the town. Then we walked
through the town to the Police Station where I stayed some time talking to the Police, they have a very hot uncomfortable place
with a very dirty yard behind, several of them were ill. From Hedd we motored back to Muharraq arriving just after sunset. I
stayed about an hour on the roof above the Police Office talking to the Amir and Haji Sulman and then we took a party of
naturs and did a sort of tour through parts of the town going into some of the houses where people collect and various other
places. I think its a very good thing to let the people know that they are liable to surprise visits from the Police. Parke used
never to do anything of this sort and its all part of the Police work. Left Muharraq at about half past ten and on the way out of
the harbour we had a collision with another launch so got delayed a bit. Very hot still night. These expeditions amuse me very
much, it makes a great change. The people in Hedd looked so surprised to see us appear from the middle of the town, usually
people come by car from Muharraq so everyone knows all about them as soon as they arrive.

Friday 10th June 1932

Went to the Bank in the morning with Steele in his car as the battery of mine is out of order, such a nuisance. The head man at
the Power House is on leave and the others dont know much about cars. Prior came over in the afternoon with a wire from the
Foreign Office to say that Shaikh Mohammed had arrived in England and was he to be received officially or something, we
answered suitably and warning them against his travelling companion who was the man who sold dud pearls. Went to tea and
tennis at the Agency, quite good tennis. Had one rubber of bridge afterwards.

Saturday 11th [June]
Court, told Shaikh Sulman about Mohamed being in England, he was very surprised and disapproving and very interested, I
think they consider that he should have let his family know about it before going to England. The down mail arrived today,
really the boats are very confusing, Holmes was on board from Kuwait. In the afternoon I went out to Zallag taking Mohamed
Khalil to see a place where the Oil Coy want to bore a new artesian well, close to the town well at Zallag. Then I went back
with them to the camp and Skinner took me out to see the site of the new well which is about two miles off the old one along a
ridge on the top of the hill on very rough ground. They are making a road to it and have used the oil they got for the road
which is beginning to be quite good already in parts. It was very pleasant out at the camp, Skinner and I had dinner at a little
table outside as it is so hot in the dining room, quite a decent dinner with clam soup which is an American dish, I thought the
clammy part was horrid but the soup quite nice. They had the wireless on to London and it was quite good but we missed the
news, that would be the afternoon news I suppose. Didnt stay late as I had Mohamed Khalil with me, a very nice drive back
and very cool, in the Aali valley it was almost chilly. D.G. had been out a few evenings ago and stayed all night, the man who
had asked him had apparently forgotten about it and was not there. I expect he had never really had a firm offer.

Sunday [12 June]

Court. Very late at the court as I had a lot of work at the Police Office. A Persian clerk of Mespers has been misappropriating
money by altering the receipts, he admitted it, having got away with about Rs 600 in one month but suggested to me that