Page 333 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

Beladya meeting. The Shaikh didnt come & sent Sulman instead, he was very late as the Shaikh had insisted on his going out
hawking before he came in. Abdulla came in & he acted as President. Settled the business of the meat market with Sulman,
the Municipality to build the new market & to take the rents until the cost of building is paid back. Afterwards discussed the
question of the "Teskam" divers advance, with some of the diving people. Drove out to see a spring that might be mended &
made useful in the afternoon & then to Suk al Khamis where we had a good look at the old mosque. It is very old, there is
some writing dated 300 years ago but the rest is probably older. It is all in ruins except the two minnarets, one of them is very
shakey. Dined with Mrs Barrett, she played her sort of piano & I played the ukelele. I've got into the way of doing it now.

Wednesday [23 November]

Saw a lot of people in the office. Spence came about the site of his oil store, also the Dr very full of gossip about the doings of
the party on the Chakala. It seems that there is about cabins decks etc. The P.R. has the best of everything & lives sort of apart
from the others. Went to the garden in the afternoon. Wrote to the Shaikh about the man who he put in prison asking for his
release, & also about the divers advance, recommending 60 & 80, the same as last year. Went to the garden in the evening.
We are sleeping indoors now, since a week or so ago, as its too cold on the veranda.