Page 810 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

forgets one is talking to an Arab. In order to prevent meeting Gastrell or any of the English people there I
phoned to Gastrell asking if he was going to Yatim's party or not so he got to know that there was a party on.
It was delightful bathing in the light of a little moon, the tank is overhung with jassamine and surrounded by
trees.

Sunday 27th [August]

Inspected all the taxis up at the Fort, with Steele, tested brakes, horns & numbers etc. Court. Motored in
afternoon.

Monday [28th August]

Office, Fort, dined at the Steeles, Customs, Police Station. Saw Gastrell in morning who showed me some
new cables from home & from Bushire, one saying that the American Coy is sacking Holmes & putting
Skinner in his place pro-tem. Also a wire from Lock suggesting that if Holmes made himself awkward - as if
he would! - he should be dealt with under the Order in Council, meaning that he should be deported. The
Company too wired suggesting that he might make trouble and even the India Office suggested that Gastrell
and I should avoid him till effects of a letter which he is to get on Thursday have worn off - all simply
ridiculous, the American Company have behaved abominably to him and are doing him down behind his
back. Lock goes on like a maniac and the I. O. rather surprise me in their estimation of how Holmes is likely
to take it. I have no intention of avoiding him, rather the opposite.

Tuesday [29th August]

Manama Biladya meeting, Gastrell came, quite lively at times. Sh Mohammed as usual was extremely
foolish, he has the intelligence of a sheep. Discussed filling in pieces of ground on the inside of the sea road,
an old subject & always brings up arguments. Customs, Police Station. Went out to Yatim's garden in
afternoon with Gastrell & had a bathe. M sat & read. Then to the Russells for Bridge but came home early as
Gastrell, Harrison & Van Peussem came to dine. A very hot night.

Wednesday [30th August]

Police. There was a robbery at the American Mission, Van Peussem's house broken into - all his silver stolen,
also a gramaphone, and 800/- rupees taken from his safe, also the Hakkens house, they being away, broken
into and all their silver taken. Foolish to leave it not locked up. I went up there before breakfast & spent a
long time with the Police investigating. Suspect the servants. Arrested V P's boy which upset him a lot, of
course he is a Christian convert, its a pity but converts usually seem to be dishonest. Had a meeting of
merchants in the Customs to discuss weights of bags of rice, all the Arabs opposed to any change but the