Page 812 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Sunday 3rd [September]

Fort. Inspected cars again. The Police band is trying to play British Grenadiers and they dont know it & put in
all sorts of variation, they are very obstinate & wont play the tunes I got them on the gramaphone records.
Abdulla, Mohammed and Sulman came in and talked about Sulman's pay and the question of gifted land,
both very awkward subjects. Sulman claims some old rights about the slaughter house which is now in hands
of the Biladya. Discussed oil, they want to write a letter about the letter regarding Holmes so made notes of
their suggestions which were sensible. They want to protest but are nervous of being ticked off again by the
Agency. Talked for an hour or so. When I took the letter to the Shaikh he was inside his haram but
appeared. He was not unprepared for it. Discussed it all over again & he made some suggestions to be put
into a letter. He was very upset and said we must write but very carefully so as not to get ourselves into
trouble, he said he particularly didnt want me to get into trouble & I was to keep clear of it as much as I could
which is difficult. Court. Played golf with Gastrell & then went back to Agency & dined later with Holmes.
Holmes seemed in very good spirits. Began drafting the letter which is very much to the point. The Shaikh is
more worried over all this than I have seen him for a very long time, he feels that Holmes is being let down
and that he is the cause of it because he wrote a letter complaining of misrepresentation, yet that was the
very last effect he wished to produce.

Monday 4th [September]

Didnt go to Fort. Office. Abdulla came to discuss draft of letter, I had it in English & translated it for him & he
thought it fitted the case. The Shaikh came later, read it over very carefully & took it away then returned it
to be redrafted & signed it & sent it to the Agency. I dont know what the effect will be but perhaps a row! I
feel a relief at having it off my hands. He talked about Sulman's pay. Stayed some time. Went to Police
d
Station & to Agency but no oil talk. Moh Ali Zainal, Jasim Kanoo called. Motored. Went over to see Dr &
Mrs Holmes.

Tuesday 5th September

Fort. Went across to Muharraq for a Biladya meeting but found that they were not holding one as most of
the members were busy as a lot of pearl boats came in for the Kharjieh, the sort of rest after doing two thirds
of the season. Sat for about an hour talking to Abdulla about various matters, he is a great gossip. It was
very pleasant on the sea, I had to take a launch as there was no wind for sailing. Took several photos of the
big pearl boats which were coming in being rowed like Roman galleys, a fine sight but difficult to get in good
picture as they move all the time. Office & customs. Motored in the afternoon.

Wednesday 6th [September]

Office, customs. Shaikh Sulman came in and worried me about some claims he has to the fees collected by
the Municipality on the slaughter house. All very tiresome, he is as grasping as the rest of them where