Page 535 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

came in to Bridge after tea and later, after dinner, old Fahad al Bassam called to see me. He had some
interesting gossip about Ibn Saoud's visit and the results of it. The King was, according to him, very angry
with everything and furious at the P.R. trying to put him off coming here. He had remarked on not being met
by Prior or me but this was of course entirely his fault as he had changed his plan at the last moment. He had
a story that Ibn Saoud blamed me for the business of the nationality certificates issued to the Katifis and was
going to make an official complaint about our action. He said that the Kozaibis were very full of it all.

Thursday 13th March

Went across to the Agency after breakfast. Shaikh Mohamed came in first and talked about the elections
which began the previous day. He seemed very full of ideas for the new Meglis. The people are taking a
great deal of interest in the matter. Jordan came in and we spent some time discussing the electric business.
We are making a mud tennis court, I hope it will be a success, it is a new thing here. Drove round to the
Biladya in the afternoon and then out on Rafaa road. Barden and Walker came in to Bridge. Nice weather,
still quite cool but not cold.

Friday [14 March]

Dr Dame came in about a letter which I had written as from the Shaikh to the Mission headquarters
appreciating Dr Rottschaefer's work, he was very put out about it and said that Dr Tiffany was very upset. It
is rather a difficult business and though I like the other two I dont want to do any harm to Tiffany who is
taking their place, she is not liked by the Khalifa ladies who wont employ her. Went down bazaar and then to
the Bank for Bridge. Shaikh Mohamed was telling me yesterday that the Arabs have several sorts of secret
sign talk that they use for instance when in a Meglis full of people when they dont want others to
understand, one is an alphabet of signs, a sort of rhyming slang, for instance "S" is indicated by their touching
the head, as "hair" is "shar" in Arabic, of which the first word is "S" and so on, another system is knocking on
the ground with a stick, like spirit writing on a planchette, up to the letter of the alphabet that is required. I
think I have seen some people doing it. Agency in the afternoon. Dr Tiffany was freezingly frigid and would
hardly play tennis with me. The Patrick Stewart came in with de Smitt the Director of Telegraphs. They came
round to the Agency. Poor tennis and rather dull Bridge. Prior has a new gramaphone, a cabinet one and
very nice. He spends a lot of money. Ibn Saoud sent him a pony, a very rotten one all bones. He was very
bored about it.

Saturday 15th March 1930

Court. Shaikh Sulman went off rather early in order to meet the Shaikh out hunting. Dull cases. Bin Hindi
called in the morning and saw James, he is a funny old man and always seems to think that M is a joke, when
he sees her he shouts with laughter. He is one of the biggest merchants and a very handsome old person.
Motored in the afternoon.

Sunday 16th [March]