Page 770 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Bazaar & office still shut, but I had the Police working again so went to Fort in the morning & then saw
various people & tried to make a list of Shaikh Isa's property. His old wife has got almost all of it gifted to
her & little is left for Shaikh Hamed. In the morning M went over to Muharraq to call on Sh Isa's old widow,
rather a dreadful ordeal, there were hundreds of women, and all the ladies of the Khalifah houses weeping
& sobbing. She saw old Ayesha who talked quite a lot extolling the virtues of Isa, to whom she was married
for 51 years. They mentioned money affairs saying that of his 5000/- a month 4000/- was always given
away - then the Shaikh sent a message to M asking her to call on young Ayesha, his wife, who is a friend of
M's so she went there. Ayesha was evidently rather jubilant and very grandly dressed. She is now the first
lady of the land & realises it. The old lady was always a thorn in her flesh.

Motored in afternoon, Mrs Holmes came to tea & Dr Holmes came in later & they had great
games with James who is very fond of her. Wrote several letters after tea to the Shaikh about his affairs &
matter of inheritance, & had a long interview with Abdulla bin Jabr who urged me to support & push the
Shaikh into claiming what was due to him. Dined with Major Holmes & played Bridge.

Monday Dec. 12th

Fort in morning then Court. Sulman did not come so I carried on alone. Went over to see Loch - he is very
difficult, so undecided & vague, the Resident left by the up mail. Went out to Yatim's garden with Major
Holmes in afternoon.

Tuesday [13 December]

Went over to Muharraq in the morning with Loch to call on the Shaikh and present him with a copy of a
telegram from Government of India recognising him as Ruler of Bahrain & successor to Shaikh Isa. He
seemed pleased to have it, though of course there was never any doubt about it and he has been the real
ruler from the time Shaikh Isa retired. We also took a document about the oil concession, granting them
another year on the present lease, for signature. The Shaikh took the opportunity to make the usual long
speech about being short of cash. Loch didnt say much one way or the other. On the way back we
discussed Christmas festivities, she said they would have a party on New Year's Eve - being Scotch. Called
on Ham at the Bank, he has been ill with fever but seemed better. Abdulla bin Jabr came to see me, as he
does daily now, about Shaikh Isa's property. The Shaikh, so far, has stood up for his rights. Played tennis at
the Mission, a pretty awful entertainment, & then went to the Russells where we played Bridge - till 9
oclock & then home. Warmer weather, the shamaal has died down. The Shaikh looking very tired &
worried. He made a quite good long speech to Loch, who understood very little of it, a sort of resumé of
the history of the Khalifa and the British connection, it was really quite good for him.

Wednesday [14 December]