Page 454 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1929

person to deal with it was Ibn Saoud. I got him to agree never to cancel a title deed as he lately talked lightly of doing
so in two cases. He quite saw the point when I explained it. He got very bored with looking at the accounts and
constantly said how hot I would find it on the road going back if I left it too late, this being a hint to go. He saw one of
the sentries standing in the sun and hurridly sent out a message to say that he was to stand in some shady place. His
mania about the sun beats any European. He never stirs out in the summer without an umbrella. Bathed in the evening
and went in to see Prior. Two thirds of the tennis match is over now. People are really getting a trifle bored by it, it
hangs on so long.

Sunday [30 June]

Went out to Sakhrir in the morning with Nairan meaning to get the Budget signed, but the Shaikh took so long trying to
understand the accounts that he never actually signed it. He had a long article in a Cairo paper about Bahrain, very anti
English and pro Ibn Saoud, saying that neither the English or the Persians had any rights in Bahrain but the suitable
person to deal with it was Ibn Saoud. I got him to agree never to cancel a title deed as he lately talked lightly of doing
so in two cases. He quite saw the point when I explained it. He got very bored with looking at the accounts and
constantly said how hot I would find it on the road going back if I left it too late, this being a hint to go. He saw one of
the sentries standing in the sun and hurridly sent out a message to say that he was to stand in some shady place. His
mania about the sun beats any European. He never stirs out in the summer without an umbrella. Bathed in the evening
and went in to see Prior. Two thirds of the tennis match is over now. People are really getting a trifle bored by it, it
hangs on so long.

Monday [1 July]

Court. Took the Zayani case. We got Abdel Rahman to come in and help us. The wakils eventually agreed to take Rs
13,000 for the sister and she to give up any claims on the rest, and all the debts to be paid by Mohamed. It seemed
quite a fair arrangement. It took a long time settling it. The only question now remaining is about the payment,
Mohamed cant pay up at once and we suggested putting it over a period of three years, instalments, this the sister did
not like. Went out to Sakhrir in the afternoon with Prior. Started quite early. Prior shot one sand grouse on the plain
opposite Rafaa, there were several about. Drank coffee and dawdled about for a long time when we got there and then
went off in the cars to the bottom of the hills on the north opposite Sakhrir, there we got out, climbed the hill and took
the dogs down into the valley below which goes right across to the sea. We walked for about an hour but only put up
one hare, and that very far off so far that the dogs did not see it. Returned to the hill where the Shaikh stayed and rode
back to Sakhrir in the cars. I had both Siwa and the silugi with me. Dined on the platform outside, pleasantly cool.
There were no other people, except servants, and the old Mullah and Mubarak. M is so very shy when his father is
present, he sits a long distance off and never speaks. Prior stayed on for the night and I motored home and had a bathe
in Idari on the way back. Didnt get home till quite late. Rather disappointing getting no sport. The Shaikh was very
pleasant and talked mostly about international politics. He picks up a certain amount from the papers.

Tuesday [2 July]