Page 169 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

to the island, on & off, for 19 years. Mrs Pennings brought the awful boy - who is not quite all there, an awful infant. I really
dislike the missionaries.

Saturday 26th [February]

Had breakfast early & went over to Agency, found the Shaikh's two cars there & had to wait an hour till the others had done
breakfast. Abdulla bin Jabr, the Shaikh's head confidential servant chauffeur is the best looking man in Bahrain - and one of
the worst! but I like him. Mrs Barrett & Haworth didnt come, only Barrett, H & Prior the drive took nearly 2 hours, right to
the other end of the island over pretty bumpy roads, but in the big cars one doesnt get shaken about. Met the Shaikh & his
party, about forty of them, at his camp. Set off riding, I on a camel, the others on donkeys, and M in the car. Rode along for
about an hour. The Shaikh, gorgeous in orange & black, rode his camel with a gold encrusted saddle & bridle. The expedition
turned out to be mainly for picking truffles which grew in large quantities, but we put up one hare & hunted it with silugis &
also one bird (?) which we got with a hawk. I enjoyed it very much indeed. Finally reached a place where there were tents.
Had the usual Arab luncheon & then rested for a couple of hours & rode back. M rode a donkey. Met no game on the return
ride. Rather bored by truffle hunting! The "bag" was spread out in the tent among the food! about four sacks of truffles, one
dead hare, one dead bird, two huge sort of lizards, very nasty creatures who bite & a flamingo. Col H was amazed at the lack