Page 105 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat
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1926
10 oclock, rather a tiring drive, 15 miles in the dark over perfectly awful ground. The Sheikh was very bothered over
the news & as usual said he must ask the P.A. & me what to say. He has absolutely no initiative at all.
Thursday [7 October]
Late for lunch as a lot of people came in to see me, among them the Dr who had been asked by the Sheikh to come &
see me about the boys not going back to school at Basra. It will be a very great pity if they dont go. Mr Ashruf, owner
of the biggest store, came to ask that there should be an Indian Mahomedan on the Meglis Biladya. A case between
the syce & the fort & one of the prison wardens, at least his wife, & an hour later the Sheikhs pony died mysteriously.
It was so queer a coincidence that I suspected poison & asked the Dr to have a look at it. Played tennis at the Agency
after tea & then went up to see the Sheikh for a few minutes as he is back here again. He didnt say a word about his
boys & school. Naturally they dont want to go back, but its absurd of him to give in to them in such a way.
Friday Oct 8th
M & I went round to call on Armstrong & to choose a puppy from his litter of silugis. Chose a very nice little dark one.
They are about ten days old & most attractive. Afterwards went a walk in the bazaars, being quite a cool day. Saw
some very nice silks - cheap too, but didnt buy any. Silk is very inexpensive here, from China, Japan & India.
Tennis at the Agency in the afternoon & afterwards Bridge & a rather tiresome talking game. Mrs B unusually foolish,
discussing, quite seriously, why Arabs wore long robes & whether the custom came from the Far East she said "but
dont you think the real reason is to prevent their knees getting sunburnt!
Saturday 9th October
Court in the morning, dull cases. Kusabi called & invited us to dinner tomorrow, went out to Suk al Khamis in the car
& back by the other road after tea. Dinner at the Spences, quite a big party & really very pleasant. Played Bridge
afterwards. Left the car at Fateems as it made queer noises.
Sunday 10th [October]
