Page 552 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Took some photos of the boy scouts at the school and then went to Essex Point with James. He paddled in
the sea and loved it. Dined with Major Holmes and played Bridge, Parke was the other. The Eid guns were
fired, tomorrow is the Eid al Haj, the time when the pilgrim celebrations take place in Mecca. Warm
weather.

Friday, 1st day of the Eid [9 May]

Motored out to Sakhrir before breakfast to call on The Shaikh. M came and waited outside the car. Very
cool out on the desert and quite a different atmosphere to the town. There were a lot of people out there.
The Shaikh was sitting on a long mud bench outside one of the houses, with carpets on it, and below, on
mats, two long rows of men mostly servants and hangers on and Bedus from the mainland. Several people
came out while I was there, mostly Persians. The tutor was dressed as an Arab and for the moment I really
didnt know who he was. Went to the Bank later on. Jordan came in to discuss the arrangements for the
Opening. Bridge. Tennis at Agency. Prior had been calling in Muharrak and was not there when people
arrived. He came in later in uniform. Only played one game of tennis as I felt bored at the idea of playing
with the Mission who are all so bad.

Saturday [10 May]

Had breakfast with Major Holmes and then went down the bazaar with him, but as it was Saturday all the
Jew shops were shut. Tiffah, the Jewess who goes out with M when she calls on Arab ladies, has called her
small son James. It is meant as a compliment. Went out a drive. Parke came in before dinner, he is very
offended, and with some excuse, as the Jordans have not asked him to the dinner party which they are giving
to celebrate the opening of the Power House. It is an official dinner paid for by the Company so they have no
excuse for not asking him. We know that Jordan said he didnt intend to as he disliked him so much. Asked
Prior to come over after dinner and discussed the matter with him, decided to write to Jordan and tell him
that Parke was to be asked. I did so. Its a pity Parke is unpopular, he asks for trouble by always being so
disagreable to the other people here, his manner is very much against him, still I felt that at an official dinner
it would be an affr... to the State if he was left out, wrote quite plainly to Jordan.

Sunday 11th May 1930
Didnt go out in the morning. Motored after tea and called on Abdel Rahman Zayani and Abdu Ali, both out,
and then on Shaikh Abdul Latif the Sunni Kadi, who was in, stayed there some time, M and James went on for
a drive in the car. The Kadi was rather amusing about a telegram that de Grenier sent to the Shaikh for the
Eid from Buda Peste, he said it was an interesting indication that they were keeping the eid there on the
same day. I doubt if many of the people there have ever heard of an eid. Came back to the house some time
before sunset and found the whole Royal Family seated on chairs on the tennis court, "drinking the Air". Sat
for some time with them as I wanted to prevent The Shaikh going to the Power House before the time. He
was very bright M went down to the Jordans and collected her and then Parke came in and took them down
to the Power House. It is only about four minutes off just beyond the Agency. Went round with The Shaikh
in his car. There was quite a crowd although we had tried to keep people off from the space opposite the