Page 172 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

Very busy morning, lots of people came in. The Shaikh of Rafaa had his house robbed the day after he married a new wife.
Held a Court, with Sulman; dull cases. The Shaikh came in, late, & we discussed education & agreed to increase the amount
to Rs 2500/- & to get three new masters from Baghdad. Went out to Senobis after lunch, & then people to tea & Bridge.

Friday March 4th

Barrett came over in the morning while we were at breakfast to say that the Shaikh was coming in here & the Captain of the
ship, HMS Lupin, would call on him & he then to return the call. The Shaikh & Abdulla arrived then and later the Captain,
Currie, a South African, quite pleasant. Stayed some time. The Shaikh was rather bored, talked about Norway, dogs &
hunting, the Captain, after much delay, returned to the ship & we followed later & paid the usual call, making the usual
speeches. The first officer is an O.B. by name Appleton, I dont remember him at Bedford but he knew me. Afterwards went
to the Agency for a few minutes. After lunch drove out to see the site of a new landing ground behind the Palace. Planes are
coming here to examine an alternative route via Bahrain & Muscat as the Persian Govt seems to be opposed to the other
route. I should like them to come this way, it would speed up mails & we would see more people. Then watched a cricket
match, for as short a time as one decently could, between the sailors & the Bahrain club, the latter mostly clerks or wireless
people, black or semi black! then to tennis & tea at the Agency where the navy were also present. Much talk at the foolish