Page 511 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Ayesha came to call, I went out as I wished to avoid her knowing that she would tackle me about the Shaikh not
gifting some land to her son Khalifa who is not one of the sons who the Shaikh likes much. She expects me to get her
husband to do something for him. They stayed a long time as there was some mistake about cars and they seemed
to be left here. They were both very pleased with James, Ayesha as usual brought her old mother with her. Went out
in the car afterwards and went to the Jordans where we stayed some time, I had gone in to ask if the Bank was having
an at home as usual. Taylor left in the morning we have now sold the Quarantine for Rs 13,000, two thousand less
than the price I wanted to get. They cant pay more than a thousand pounds without putting it up to the Treasury at
home who would probably not pass it.

Saturday [4 January]

Court. M went out for a drive with James in Prior's car which he lent while he was away. He offered it to M and to
Mrs Straker, the latter when she heard that M had been out remarked, "I thought you hard a car of your own." A
queer woman, she gets so sour about things. In the afternoon we took the new tutor out to Sakhrir. The shaikh
seemed quite pleased to see him but not keen on making his very spoilt sons do any work. The poor little man will
have a very difficult time with them. The youngest but one, Daij, is a horrid little boy of about 14 or 15, terribly spoilt.
It is very awkward that the tutor does not talk Arabic. The two older boys speak a little English but not much so he is
at a great disadvantage. It is very irritating calling on The Shaikh to transact business during the hawking season as all
the time he has hawks brought into the room and his attention is taken by them more than by anything that one talks
to him about. I had the greatest difficulty in getting him to do any business. Eventually we arranged that the tutor
was to begin with Mubarak at Muharrak and then come out to Sakhrir with the other boys. The Shaikh said
something about doing two hours work a day, Abdulla and I said it was far too little and that the very least would be
four. It is going to be a difficult job. Very cold motoring back and a lovely sunset. I dont think the tutor was much
impressed and he seems to dislike the place. I am sorry that we didnt get a man who can speak Arabic. He is very
intelligent and well educated otherwise and would do well. He comes from an Indian state called Tonk.