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hawks, one which he said was 14 yrs old, it has aged 2 years since I last heard him tell its age!! Some of them know him well,
he sat at one end of the Meglis & called it & it hopped across to him, savage looking creature, but very handsome.

Wednesday 28th [December]

Office in morning. Tennis at Mespers in afternoon. Really no particular news. Quite cool weather still. Very few people at
tennis, none of the mission & the Dr not there. An Arab Shaikh from Persia called, he came here some days ago to get money
off Hamed, 15000/- to pay a fine which had been put on his brother by the Persian Govt. The Shaikh didnt want to lend it &
sent him on to me. I interviewed him, a tall languid youngish man with a big floppy turban. He was very cross at having to
wait some time. He was most indignant when I said that we would not lend him money unless he produced two persons to
guarantee it. I mentioned three or four big merchants who I did not expect would agree. He said that between Shaikhs such
things were unnecessary - & sailed out again. Then interviewed a Syrian journalist. They have a system which is very like
blackmail, they come to places like this & demand subscriptions & if not heavily bribed they write abusive articles about
people. Squared him with Rs 300/- - he asked for more having first produced a most fulsome article all about Barrett & myself
- the two people from whom he expected to get money.

Tennis & Bridge at Mespers, very late coming back as the rubber went on for so long.