Page 16 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

16

1926

Friday [16th April]

A sudden wind storm in the night & sudden fall in temperature. The South wind is hot & the N wind, over the sea, is
cool. We were going over to Muharrak again but it was too rough, so I accompanied Daly on a round of calls in the
town lasting about three hours. First to the Kadi, the sort of ecclesiastical judge, a venerable but rather grubby old
man who spoke all the time in "measured accents" & sounded as if he was preaching a sermon. I think he must have
begun life as a Muezzin, his voice was so sonorous. The usual sherbert, rosewater, coffee, spraying over with scent, &
then insense. Afterwards called on the leading merchants in their big cool rooms high above the market. The houses
are very nice, furnished with carpets & a few cushions propped against the walls - occasionally two chairs & a table.
Everywhere the same scented sherbert, coffee, & awful coloured drinks, vivid green & rose coloured sweet
concoctions - by the time we had done I felt decidedly sick! One has to drink a little - & they do clash! The people
were really extremely nice, well mannered, spotlessly clean, & intelligent, very superior to any natives I visited at Siwa
- but after all they can afford to be so. Slept after lunch, & then to tea & tennis at the Daly's, but such a gale glowing
that tennis was no good. Met the Levy Corps man, a good looking stupid young fellow. There are actually about 20
white people here, at present. Mrs D has very good teas. Cool evening & a sea breeze. Its a very windy place, & so
far, the wind keeps it nicely cool. Another mail due tomorrow. I ought to have got another of these books. I have
only got this one - & at page 17!

Saturday 17th April