Page 382 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1928

Went down the bazaar in the morning. Rather hot, south wind. Asked about a notice said to have been sent out
announcing opening of a Persian post office here. Could find no evidence about it. A luncheon party at Yusuf
Fakroo's but didnt go. Planted some trees in garden, lemons. Tennis at Agency. Very few people present owing to
lunch at Muharrak.

Saturday 31st March

Court. I let Parke take it as I was very busy paying out the Dawasir. Sh Mohamed called, as usual whining about his
tenants who dont pay their rents, also he begged me to try & get the Government to buy his great house at Senobis
which is very large & no use to him. It is no use to the Govt. either. He is an unpleasant mean little man. I am sorry
that he has been chosen as the Shaikh to attend the League of Nations meeting about the Persian claim. Went down to
the Joint Court & talked to Shaikh & Barrett about the Dawasir payments. He is very obstinate & all for giving them
anything that they ask for - as long as it is public money not his own privy purse. Yusuf Fakroo called, decided to
postpone the matter of pearl brokers till a more opportune time. Persians are now naturally out of favour. A morning
at the Dawasir accounts. Went to the garden and then to tennis at the Agency. Only the Barretts. The Hakkens called
to say good bye with the child - a plain creature. Straker & Holmes to dinner. Mail came in. A German boat came but
stayed out at the outer anchor. Warm day. Gray looking like rain but non fell. The old pearl broker came, bought
three small ones for Rs 12/- do for brooches. Shaikh Abdulla going to the mainland on shooting trip.

Sunday [1 April]

Work at Dawasir business all the morning. Went to the little island off Gezereh in the afternoon in a joliboat. Rather
rough so we landed at Essex Point & walked back.

Dined with Holmes, Parke was there, very argumentative. Played Bridge.

Monday April 2nd 1928

Municipal meeting very dull. The Shaikh paid no attention to anything & spent most of the time engrossed in
whispered conversations with servants. Then said he had to go early. A party of people from Hedd came in after the
Meglis & complained that a merchant of Hedd had threatened to kill one of them, they were `Holy Men' very much
dressed in white turbans, very smug! Went to the Customs on the way back. M had a bad cold & stayed in bed. Went
up to the palace in the afternoon & then to the Biladya garden, the stocks and the gallardias are perfectly lovely, also
the oleander, rose pink & masses of blossom. Went round to the Agency before dinner.

Tuesday 3rd April

Called on Seyed Ednan in the morning after seeing various people here, Dawasir, Smith & others. Had a long talk
about the School & Wakfs. Seyed is too lenient & doesnt like to do anything which will make him at all unpopular.
Afterwards went along to see the map which Holmes geologists have made for the oil business. Motored out to see
road work & new school in the afternoon then Holmes & de Grenier came in to play Bridge.