Page 503 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

501

1929

Saturday December 7th 1929

Office in the morning. Went up to the Palace in the afternoon and spent a long time there preparing for the Levee. It
will look very fine. The room is large, the biggest one in the Gulf and the furniture, chairs and sofas from Waring and
Gillows are very handsome. Called at the Customs on the way back. Raining hard. D.G as usual said he was terribly
busy and very overtired with hard work but he insisted on us walking all round the import sheds to see a lot of sugar
which had been landed off the ship that ran aground, from Germany. Mohamed Sherif was on the pier very angry
about some of his cargo. Parke came back to tea and we discussed the seating at the Palace, a matter of great
importance as people here get so terribly offended if they are put lower than people whom they consider to be inferior.
I really dont know whether the Arabs or the white people are the worst on the subject. Prior came in after tea, he and
Parke decidedly frigid. It seems that Parke told Prior that his servant came to the Fort and tried to borrow money, and
Prior then retaliated by saying his servant, who Parke said was such a bad character, was a relation of the Indian
Officer. Meeting of the Shia Wakf Department in the morning.

Sunday [8 December]

Office. Parke came in to lunch and then went aboard the ship as it was calm but looked very stormy. I have lent him
Rs 2000 as he was very short of cash having to go off so suddenly just after he had returned from leave. Went up to the
Palace in the afternoon and took D.G. He was tremendously fussy and important and evidently delighted at my asking
him to take charge of the seating arrangements. We have appointed about a dozen stewards who are to show people to
their seats. The room looks fine, a high dais with red curtains behind it and chairs and sofas set on it. M had fever I
persuaded her to go to bed when she got home. D.G. came back with us and evidently expected to be asked to dinner,
but was not.

Monday [9 December]

No court as I had expected the P.R. and party to arrive. A lot of people came round in the morning, some Arabs came
to say that they had heard that their seats were far back and thought they should have better ones, also Ali Kanoo in a
great fuss as he had not been put down to deliver a speech as early in the list as he thought he should be. My Birthday.
M gave me a very nice blue cardigan. Very cloudy. Went up to the Palace in the afternoon for a last look round. M
has had rather a temperature and the Doctor said she was to go to bed. I am afraid she has got a go of dysentry. Went
over to see Prior before dinner. Cold rainy weather.

Tuesday [10 December]

Abdulla bin Jabr came round with the new car in the morning which is being lent to the Resident during his visit, it is
the new six seater Studebaker which was bought for Shaikh Isa and declined. Went round to the Customs and had a
look at the Customs Meglis which had been very well done up, all painted and hung with carpets and new chairs. Then