Page 492 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

489

1929

came over and said that they had lunched on board. He seemed very angry because nobody had been to meet him. I
dont know whether he expected me to go out there. They think nobody has anything to do here except hang round
them. Boat arrived, in sight, at four oclock. The Shaikh lent his launch to me to go out in. Went out with D.G. and
Seyed Saddiq who was meeting Prior. Quite rough, a strong shamaal blowing. Very nasty going out. Dawdled about
on the boat for about two hours and then we got off into the launch but the propeller got twisted up in the rope of a
dhow and we had a very unpleasant dangerous time rolling about below the ship almost under the sailing boats. Very
nasty. M and James very well. James is so different to when I last saw him that I certainly should not have known
him. Mrs Jordan on the same boat, a vulgar looking personage rather of the lodging house keeper style, actually used
to be an Australian hospital nurse. Prior came to dinner as he had not arranged anything in his house. The R.A.F. were
asked but didnt come, nor did they say they were not coming, as usual. Their manners are abominable. There were a
lot of people at the quay waiting to meet us, Mohamed Ali and the Kanoos and many others. Rather a job getting all
the baggage off the launch and into the cars.

Sunday 27th [October]

The Shaikh came to call on James, also Abdulla, Sulman and a whole crowd of them. James sat in the middle of the
sofa and the Shaikh sat next to him. James behaved beautifully and showed off very well, he was much attracted by
the Shaikh's rosary and the gold on his headdress. They all admired him a great deal. Afterwards various other people
came in to call on him. Had a long talk with Abdulla and the School Inspector about education. Jordan came in for
some time and Parke. Quite a busy morning and didnt get up till nearly two. The aeroplane left. They all came to
breakfast in the morning as Prior had not settled down yet. It looked so funny to see the Shaikh and James sitting side
by side on the sofa talking to eachother. Old Fahad al Bassam called in the afternoon and admired James very much,
James is much taken by the Arabs' rosaries, usually made of amber. He also likes their head arrangements especially
the Shaikhs who wear gold on them. Went out in the car in the afternoon.

Monday 28th October 1929

Court. Had another go at the pearl case. Went to tennis at the Mission in the afternoon. Prior is very angry because
Barrett proposed sending down Dickson on a sort of special job to go inland from here by sea plane. Very bad tennis at
the Mission. Mrs Dame is extremly frigid because most of the girls at her Mission school have left her and gone to the
new Government girls' school. I feel sure that she blames me though its not exactly my fault. Pack and Prior came to
dinner and we discussed various legislation about cultured pearls.

Tuesday [29 October]

Muharrak Biladya meeting. Very dull. Abdulla had a very bad cold and seemed very sorry for himself. Had a few
words with the Shaikhs young son Abdulla a most obstinate youth who wants a good smacking. He is quite indifferent
to his father and the old man really has no control over him. Went into the Customs on the way back and watched the
arrival of the Mission party who came from Basra and also Mrs Straker and John who had done the tour of the Gulf.
Dr Rottschaefer came in and had a glass of beer, then a peppermint to take the smell away before she met the others
who would disapprove so much. Ayesha came to call in the afternoon with her mother. She sent for me. She looked
very well and the old lady looked far better than she used to. They were delighted with James and he seemed to like