Page 751 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1932

history in the afternoon. I am now tackling the period when the Portuguese were in Bahrain, 16th Century which is very
interesting but it is slow work.

Saturday [17 September]

Court, we had a lot of cases but got done quite early. In the evening after tea I went out to Ain al Hakim and had a bathe and
then sat for some time talking to the old man who lives near the garden. In the evening Shaikh Abdulla, the Shia Kadi, came to
call and we sat on the roof. He stayed about an hour and as he had come at the wrong time it was rather awkward as I was just
going to have dinner when I came. He was very interested about the Air Line and is anxious to fly if the price is not too high.
He is a very pleasant intelligent little man and I enjoy a visit from him as he talks to me absolutely openly and about all sorts of
subjects. He always points out that our religion and theirs are not so different as people think, and of course in many ways they
are not, I think he would like to turn me into a Shia.

Sunday [18 September]

Court. Shaikh Sulman did not come, I got done quite early. At the Fort most of the afternoon watching the new Police
drilling, they are coming on very well.

Monday [19 September]

Court but owing to a mistake the big case put down for the day was not summoned so we had no cases to try and got off very
early. Had a lot of work in the office to attend to so I was glad to have some extra time for it. Went to the fort in the afternoon
and then to Ain al Hakim to bathe and afterwards to dinner with Pack, we had a very good dinner and Bridge afterwards. I like
him very much, he is so intelligent and interested in things that I am, he has been coming to Bahrain for the last twenty years
almost without missing a summer to buy pearls.

Tuesday [20 September]

Municipal council meeting in Muharraq, it lasted very long and was at times very lively especially when they dealt with the
contract for the street cleaning and a matter about the pay of the secretary, I didnt get away till half past one and by that time
the tide was very far out so that the sailing boat, rather a big one, which I came over in stuck many times on the way back and
eventually I got out and waded ashore opposite the Agency pier. I had lunch at 2.15 and then went up to the Fort as usual.
Dined with Major Holmes, the doctor and Pack were there and we played Contract bridge, Pack plays it well, I know
something about it as last summer in England we had lessons and played a little, but Holmes and the doctor are quite new at it.
Its a good game and much more exciting than ordinary Auction. A very good dinner as usual, I said the other day that when I
lunched at my club I usually had steak and kidney pie and so Holmes had it for dinner and very well made too. He is going up
to Iraq soon until Prior gets back as some of the oil negotiations are held up till then which is very annoying. A lot of talk at