Page 477 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

474

1929

Friday September 6th 1929

Got up extremly early, before sun rise, as the Air people wanted to go to Muharrak and then survey the Khor Khaliya
near Shaikh Sulman's house. Their latest idea is to change the anchorage. They dawdled about until seven oclock. I
was very annoyed at getting up so early on a Friday. Went over to Muharrak and drove out across the plain to Busatin.
They were very impressed with it. It is good enough for whole squadrons to land on. On the way back the water in the
car ran out but Shaikh Khalifa bin Sulman came by and took us back to the town in his car. He is quite the ugliest of
the Khalufa, a really hideous little man like a black dwarf with a bushy black beard. I came back and they went off in
the launch to do soundings with my surveyor for whom they seemed to think it was a sort of treat. Nice cool day. I
have all my meals on the veranda now which is most pleasant. The building man, Bertran came back early from the
Quarantine camp where he had been working. He is quite pleasant though perhaps a touch of the tar brush. After
lunch they all slept, I began a picture. Went up to the Palace with Howe in the evening. The Shaikh talked again about
his household affairs. He says all the servants dont only feed themselves from his house but send out food to all their
relations and friends. He ought to forbid it, but he wants me to do that. Didnt go out again. On the way back we went
to the Biladya garden and walked back.

Saturday 7th [September]

The aeronauts departed. Went up to the Fort and then had a Court. A lot of cases, most of the boats are in about now
for Safieh, all say they have done badly. The flying boats are coming back on 15th October with Barrett and Major
Burnett en route for Aden via Bahrain and the Arab coast. They will be here again on their return journey on about
26th October. By then perhaps Prior will be back. Meeting of the Shia Wakf committee. It went on till after sunset.
Went in to the Holmes' when I got back. She was very bright. No potatoes in the bazaar. Quite a cool day and the
nights are awfully nice now, I always use a blanket. There seems to be a great mix up about the trip to the diving
banks. Habib seems to think that I have held it up, as a matter of fact neither I or the Shaikh want to go, but I made no
attempts to hold up the business.

Sunday 8th September

Shaikh Mohamed came just when I was going to have breakfast. Afterwards I went with him down the bazaar to see
some places where the Biladya is working. He is terribly pompous on these occasions and makes far more to do than
the Shaikh ever does. He pranced about the bazaar looking at street widening. We drove all through in his car and at
many corners had difficulty in turning, still it is quite different to what it was three years ago. I am sorry that some of
the streets have been widened as they are far less picturesque. Mohamed was as usual very tiresome. Khalil Kanoo
came to see me and talked about getting the Agency from Callenders. It is just the sort of thing that Mespers ought to
try for but they are so lacking in initiative and have done nothing about it. I should prefer them to have it. Busy
morning in the office. Had a look at the Shaikh's accounts. If only he would take a strong line he could save half the
amount he spends. Went out to see Abdulla bin Jabr's spring in the evening and was there in his house a long time. He
has two very nice little daughters, very good manner and very clean. He insisted on giving me a Minor, a sort of
talking bird, for "Hamed". It is really rather a funny creature and talks very well. We discussed the best methods of
getting The Shaikh to economise. He has got a good well at his house, just behind the quarantine camp, and is making