Page 484 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

482

1929

Shaikh Hamed and Mohamed came in in the morning, they had expected Abdulla to meet them here but he didnt. The
Shaikh was bothered because I asked for written orders that all the Khalifa should be subject to the moroe rules etc, he
is always so afraid of his own relations. They stayed some time and made me very late for breakfast and Court.
Mohamed Ali appeared, he is no good whatever. Shaikh Abdulla came to call in the afternoon on his way to the
reception in honour of Mohamed Ali Zainal, I decided not to go. Went out with Mohamed Khalil and had a look at the
roads which need some mending. Went along to see Jordan afterwards, stayed to dinner at the Customs. Jordan and de
Grenier are on very bad terms at present, must be quite unbearable to live together, I hope Jordan moves soon to his
own house. D.G. had been to the reception and described to us how he made such an "effective entrance" apparently
by pushing in rudely in the middle of a speech. The wireless is quite good at times, one can hear music well but voices
are not clear, so far Jordan has not got the loud speaker fixed up only the tiresome arrangement to put on ones ears
which I dislike.

Friday 4th October 1929

Went out before breakfast with Jordan to see the site of the Power House again, Prior has agreed to us having the site
we want. Mohamed Ali Zainal and his party came to call, two cars full of them, with Bienenfeld and Jasim Kanoo.
They didnt stay long. He looked very well. He always strikes me as being such a very unpractical sort of man for such
a big merchant, he complained that he had been persuaded to spend a lot of money in India and at Dubai just for show
and not because he needed any more pearls. He appears to be so very simple, whether that is a pose or not I dont
know. According to some his religious style is also a pose. Went down the bazaar and then to the Bank where we
played Bridge. Had tennis at the Agency in the afternoon and then they came over here for bridge. Quite cool, a
strong shamaal again. I am having a real spring cleaning of my house.

Saturday [5 October]

Busy morning, a lot of people came in. Went to the Biladya garden in the afternoon and planted seeds. Dinner at
Mespers, ben Simon and Bienenfeld were there, very lively couple although the former doesnt speak much english.
The new Inspector of Education from the Beyrout University called. I liked him, a stoutish youngish man with a red
fez, talks very good English. I had a long talk with him about Education here and he seemed to be very sensible
indeed.

Sunday October 6th 1929

Shaikh Abdulla and the school inspector called in the morning and we had a long talk about education. He is a very
intelligent man and seems quite to understand the position here, it is not easy to start new things as the people are so
very conservative. He suggested among other things that no boys should be admitted to any of the schools until passed
by the doctor, a most excellent idea but the people probably wont like it. Discussed the question of the girls' school,
we hope to open it on Sunday. His wife sounds a very capable sensible woman. Jordan came in and I went along to
the Power House with him, it is a relief to have definitely settled on the site at last. Planted seeds in the Biladya garden
in the afternoon. The garden is really very nice now, shady and cool with lots of arbours and nice places to sit.