Page 547 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

offered to take it at his place for a few days and get it into condition again. He knows all about cows. The
tennis court is a great success and plays very well. We had quite good tennis and Bridge afterwards but M
couldnt play owing to James. One of the men at the telegraphs, a so called Englishman, gave an Arab a black
eye for apparently no reason. It is becoming too frequent here and the offenders are always people of the
sort of intermediate class. Mrs Holmes came round in the morning and James went to call on her in the
afternoon. She takes much interest in him and is a great help as she knows all about them. Warm day.

Wednesday [23 April]

Went down to the Joint Court. The Shaikh seemed very bright. Thanked him for his letter telling me to draw
another Rs 100 a month while doing the Customs work. It will be quite useful. Told him about a Mexican
lady who, according to the Morning Post, had six sons, at once, all doing well. He was greatly interested as
were the litigants in court who joined in a general conversation about twins and triplets etc. Its the sort of
news that interests him. Went down the bazaar and saw to some repairs in the Shaikh's property. Very
warm. I shall change into summer clothes at the end of this month. Went to see some ground in the suk
which The Shaikh is gifting to one of his sons, Ibrahaim, a silly one eyed creature. So many of the young
shaikhs are almost cracked, it all comes of marrying so young and intermarriage. Parke came in in the
morning to talk about his pay, seemed to think he had lost some. He says he is so very badly off. Motored to
Rafaa. James howled for about an hour when he went to bed. It seems to bore him so.

Thursday [24 April]

A deputation of leading pearl merchants came to see me about this years selaf. They want it to be very low
as they say they have really not got any money to pay. We thought of putting it at Rs 80 and Rs 60. I pointed
out that last year when the divers made a fuss they did not back us up but asked for more. They all promised
to back us in the matter. Went over to the Agency and talked oil with Prior. Tennis in the afternoon, mostly
mission. Poor tennis and a dull party. We had the Jordans and Parke to relieve the gloom of uncondensed
Mission. Hot day but a shamaal.

Friday April 25th 1930

Bank in the morning. We left James asleep with one of the boys in charge of him. When we returned the
whole staff were playing with him on the veranda. He will get very spoilt. Rather late at the mission as we
had a long rubber of Bridge and eventually left without finishing it. Tennis at the Agency and Bridge. In the
morning, before going to the Bank I went over to the Agency and Prior and I and Holmes had a talk about the
oil business. Prior wants to get a certain clause in the Concession altered. It more or less puts the
responsibility of any damage sustained by the Company onto us. He said until it was altered he would not
ask the Shaikh to sign the transfer permission which they are asking for. Holmes was extremly annoyed
about it and said he disliked Prior sort of demanding a thing with a threat. An awkward interview. Prior and
Holmes dislike eachother.