Page 145 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

No Court. Kanoo came to call in the morning before breakfast. He stayed 1½ hours, which made me late. He is a fat
elderly man, always in white, with rather a Jewish nose & spectacles, one eye slightly squinting, very oily & thoroughly
unpleasant. He never speaks without mentioning his money & his belongings. He came with two of his clerks & three
servants carrying account books to show his claim to some land which the Govt took over. He seemed very injured at my
doubting his possession of it which as he had no title deeds I certainly did. He discussed various things and said the sea
road, palace & new offices were a waste of money. Myself I partly agree, but didnt say so. He said we ought to build a
road, across the sea to Muharraq with a bridge at the deep channel. It would probably be impossible & would cost a huge
amount. He touched on the bridge and said he was sure he could persuade the Shaikh to build it. That was really a threat
to me as if after the Shaikh decided not to do so Kanoo made him change his mind it would be a great score for old K.

Jabr b Msallem, a leading narkhuda, came in & had a long talk about diving & the diving rules. Motored out to Sakhrir with
Robinson in his car in the afternoon. Saw the Shaikh & discussed K & the bridge. As I arrived the Shaikh was returning on
camel from hunting with sons & a big escort. Had tea by the road on a plain which is now quite green & grassy.

Thursday 13th [January]