Page 840 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

queer abrupt manner, but is very good when he talks business. His policy is very much one of non-
interference in Bahrain affairs. Think myself he is inclined to carry it a little too far. Tennis at the Agency &
then played Bridge at the de Greniers, just ourselves.

Saturday 25th November

Court. Shaikh Mohammed came in. He is going to Eygpt. He travels every year but each time invents a long
excuse for it, this time he pretends he has to take a son to Cairo for medical treatment. He fussed about the
Liba business and about getting free passage in the boat for himself and his party. He is terribly mean. I am
always glad when he goes away & I am spared his constant visits. Went across to the Agency for a little
while. In the evening we went to see the Holmes's.

Sunday 26th [November]

Court. Police did their march & the band played "Marching through Georgia". Went out to Nuwaidrat in
afternoon where I met the oil people, Skinner, Russell & Bone, and looked at the place where they want to
make a bridge across to Sitrah. It will be very useful to have a bridge so that one can get across by car. Then
back & Bridge at the DG's after tea. Cold windy day. The Resident left in the evening.

Monday 27th November

Fort. Court. Gave Judgment in the Hedd case, an interesting affair. Several brothers & a sister lived in Hedd.
Some of the brothers were out diving & returned a few days ago. The son of one of the local Arabs, a fairly
big man, sent for one of the brothers immediately he returned and told him his sister had misbehaved and he
should therefore kill her at once to prevent any shame on the family. Whereupon the young man went home
immediately, called his sister into his room, and, as he thought, strangled her. He left her for dead & went
out of the house & wandered about for some hours till he met the man who had suggested it, who told him
he had made a mess of it & not killed her - which was actually the case. The young man admitted it all in the
Police Station & in the court. We gave him 5 years and the other man l year or 500/- Went to RAF, Shaikh's
garden & Senian before tea. Dinner party - very much a duty dinner, the Hakkens, Thorns and Carpenters, all
Americans. James ill, we think it is a cold, temperature 102. Raided a house for arak before dinner & got 3
bottles.