Page 119 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

Bahrain merchants on board sent us up an Arab dinner, we ate it at the same time as our own. The Ship's
Officer tasted it but didnt seem to like it much - that class are always so suspicious of new things especially if
"native". Bridge after dinner, its a pity we cant get a fourth. We get to Muscat tomorrow. Richardson knew
Parke in Aden, P was there in the Yemen Levies.

Saturday 6th November

Arrived at Muscat in the afternoon. Quite the most picturesque & attractive looking place in the Gulf. Huge
rugged cliffs in the background, a little bay with cliffs on each side & two old castles & the town on the shore
beneath the rocks. Really most impressive from the sea. We went ashore after tea with Pack & walked out
of the back of the town and round the bazaar. The town on closer inspection has a very decayed & is not at
all flourishing or prosperous. We saw fine houses tumbling down & numbers of closed shops. The other
town, in the next bay, is said to be better & more prosperous. It is very paintable, in a way something like
Aden, but smaller. There are old towers & castle like buildings among the rocks, & a few gardens watered
from very deep wells. I should like to have spent several days there. Then we called at the Agency. The
P.A. is one Murphy, quite a pleasant little man lately married to an extremely pretty very young American
girl. They were playing tennis when we arrived. I rather liked the Agency which was close to the sea. It
was dark when we rowed back to the boat & with the lights in the houses the place looked just like a scene
from a play.