Page 436 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

Court. Went across to the Agency for a few minutes afterwards. Prior came in to tea and afterwards we went out for a
drive and I went in there. He is very amusing, rather the style of Gordon and given to saying very strange things, I
hope he does so with the Mission. He is very good looking, tall with a little dark moustache and very good eyes and
teeth, dark hair and a very good opinion of himself.

Friday [3 May]

Stayed very late in bed and then later on went down to the Biladya to see Ali bin Hussein about the site of the new fish
market. Rather a warmer day but not really hot. Marjorie up but not out yet. Went to the Agency in the afternoon.
Got one sett of tennis. Prior was very bored by the Mission but had a very good tea indeed. He got me to arrange the
setts so we made the bad players play together, which they dislike but if they dont it spoils the tennis. Had some
Bridge, Mrs Straker and Prior danced to the gramaphone after tea, when the Mission had left. She evidently hopes for
some amusement from him.

Saturday 4th May

Various people came to call in the morning. Went out to Idari and had a bathe. A meeting of the Biladya committee in
the evening, the last one, fortunately. Rather hot.

Sunday [5 May]

Court. Some people of a village called Aali killed two donkeys belonging to some of the Shaikhs because they ate
some green stuff in their gardens. It is a serious thing as in the past things like this have caused attacks on the villages
and cases of murder. Nobody will say who did it so we said that if we were not informed in five days the whole village
would be punished. The Baharna are really very irritating, for hundreds of years they have been oppressed and only in
Daly's time they were backed up and now they have got very presumptious and are too uppish. Its always the same
with oppressed people when they cease to be oppressed. Went out to a place called Sahla in the afternoon and paid out
some money to the people as the whole of their village was burnt down. It took a long time. These people have no
manners. Not a single man of them said thank you, there were over 50 of them. The boat came in, late. Prior came to
dinner. He was very bright and amusing and stayed till after half past eleven.

Monday [6 May]

Court. A number of Shias went to the Agency and made a petition about various things such as the Wakf Department,
Shaikh Khalaf and other matters. Tennis at the Mission in the evening. M went out yesterday and to the Mission
today. The tennis was indescribably bad and altogether it was a very doleful entertainment. Mail, not a single personal
letter for me. The baby is starting prickly heat and very worried by it. Its a nasty irritating thing.

Tuesday [7 May]