Page 504 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

502

1929

back to the office and then went along to join the Shaikh. The ladies of the party, Mrs Biscoe and her two daughters,
came ashore first, separately in a launch and Marjorie met them and took them to the Agency, then they all came along
to the pier to see the official landing. I joined the Shaikhs at the pier. They were very gorgeously dressed. We started
off in the launch, very choppy. I didnt at all enjoy the voyage out but fortunately they anchored fairly near in. A lot of
difficulty in getting up onto the ship and in disembarking again as it was so rough. The Shaikh had to be hoisted up.
Abdulla and Mohamed and most of the Shaikhs sons came out with us and all the retainers in their red and yellow
dresses, a most brilliant bit of colour. When they landed at the Customs Mrs Biscoe saw my man get out of the boat
first and thought he was the Shaikh as he carried a silver dagger and wore a scarlet coat. The Resident received us on
deck. He had his secretary with him, a young man called Russell, rather dull and heavy looking. The Resident is very
nice, between forty and fifty, thin, reddish hair and a gentleman. I, as usual, interpreted. The Shaikh is very easy to
deal with on these occasions as he makes plenty of conversation. He talked about his visit to London and various
compliments. Stayed about half an hour and then came ashore, the Resident following a few minutes later. A great
crowd at the pier and all the usual show, a guard of honour, people beating drums and dancing and lots of people
looking on. The Shaikh received him in the Customs Meglis and then he drove off to the Agency where Shaikh Isa
called on him. I like him, I think he will be easier to work with than Barrett. de Grenier appeared in a frock coat, far
too large for him which I hear he acquired in the bazaar. He looked very comic indeed and made a sort of speech in
abominable arabic at the Meglis. Stayed some time at the Customs and then went home. I had Nairan, my head clerk,
taking photos for me on the pier with my camera. It was really a very impressive sight, when the Shaikh and party
came ashore we processed solemnly along the pier to the Meglis. There were crowds of people at all the windows of
the houses near the quay. Marjorie liked the Resident's wife very much. Went up to the Biladya garden and got a few
flowers for the house. Motored out in the afternoon and then went to call at the Agency. Met the Strakers coming
away, apparently very angry as the Resident and his family had not appeared. We had tea there. I like them. Dr
Holmes came to see M in the evening. She had a temperature again but wouldnt go to bed as she didnt want to miss
the festivities.

Wednesday [11 December]

Shaikh Mohamed came in the morning with a letter from the Shaikh and I took him across to the Agency to call on the
Resident to ask about his hunting trip to Lingah. The Resident told him he advised him not to go so he eventually
decided not to attempt it. It seems that there is a possibility of the negociations with Persia being finished by March.
Resident and party called on Shaikh Isa at Muharrak and Ayesha came to call on Mrs Biscoe at the Agency. M went
over with her and the head mistress of the girls school attended as interpreter. Ayesha was as usual late and the men
returned to the Agency before she had left. After her visit there Ayesha came in here to see James. Mrs Biscoe came
in here in the morning and left the small girl with out ayah. The older one is 15 but very precocious and appeared to be
about 19. Quite a pretty little thing in a mild way. In the afternoon we had the Levee at the Palace. I wore morning
clothes which I had borrowed from Prior, slightly tight and short but it didnt show. M went with the Residency party
and I went up alone and arrived just as The Shaikh did. The Shaikhs were quite gorgeous, Abdulla wore the finest
clothes, he always is very dressy, he was in thick cloth of gold and scarlet with a wonderful sword and dagger and
heavy gold embroidery on his robes, really a wonderful sight. The Shaikh was in yellow and gold, Mohamed had a lot
of dark red and Mubarak was in wine coloured cloth with a brown and gold abba. They looked more impressive than I
have ever seen them before, and very dignified. We sat on the side veranda waiting for the Resident while hundreds of
cars came up and down from the town bringing the guests. About three hundred people attended, all the Europeans and
all the leading Arabs and foreigners. Mrs Biscoe, M and the two girls arrived with the Commander of the Patrick
Stewart, Captain Marr. The Resident, Prior and the Secretary came together. The Shaikh met him at the head of the