Page 742 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1932

to see Holmes after the Shaikh left. The Shaikh complained, rather proudly, that he was quite tired as he had had so many
visitors to the Palace, this is about as much work as he ever does, sitting in the Meglis and receiving visitors.

Sunday [10 July]

Court. I sent Mespers a young man from the Manama school as a clerk to replace the one who was stealing money from them
and who is now in prison, it is much better for them to employ local men who I can provide. Tennis here in the afternoon, the
Triad was supposed to arrive at five but did not come till much later and as the up mail came in both Russell and the doctor
were away so the tennis was very poor. The court was bad too as the roller had been borrowed by the Sports Club to prepare
their cricket pitch or something, altogether everything was rather unsatisfactory. We got no Bridge as there was not a four.

Monday [11 July]

Court, we had the Siadi case on but as one of the parties was ill and couldnt appear the case had to be put off and as we had no
other cases I got an extra morning for other work. Went with Shaikh Sulman to see a piece of ground in the Shaikh's sook
which he has given to one of his sons and there is some row about it between another son who owns adjoining ground. Steele
is moving up to the Fort, I hoped to let his house to Skinner but now I dont think he is going to come into Manama. Tennis at
the Agency in the afternoon, Prior was playing hockey so I acted for him, the S.N.O. was there and later on his Secretary a man
called Tottenham who seemed to think he knew me though I didnt remember having met him before. We had some quite good
games and then played Bridge. Down mail arrived, quite a cool day, at least cool in the evening on the Agency veranda.
S.N.O. invited us all to dinner on the ship on Wed: and as she is miles away, almost out of sight, I dislike the prospect
extremly.

Tuesday [12 July]

Went to Muharraq Biladya meeting, rather an acrimonious one, some of the members seemed to be baiting the Secretary all the
time, but its quite a good thing. It lasted a very long time and I stayed it out but Prior left early, sailed back in a little joliboat at
great speed as there was a strong shamaal. The suggestion that owners of property not tenants should be responsible for paying
municipal taxes was turned down unanimously. It was passed in Manama by a very narrow majority. In the afternoon I went
up to the Palace to see the Shaikh but he had gone out into the country so I went on to Senian and spent some time there, the
garden looks very flourishing and the orange trees are doing very well indeed. Had a look at the football match between a
local team and the Navy and then came home. The match was a draw as they often seem to be. Dinner party at the Agency, all
the local inhabitants except the Mission, the S.N.O. and Tottenham and two very young officers were there. After dinner had a
sort of mock trial of Ham, I thought it rather silly but I acted as the Judge. Quite a pleasant party but it went on too late, we
didnt leave till after one oclock which I do not like in the summer.

Wednesday [13 July]