Page 565 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Didnt go to the Biladya as the Resident was expected. As usual at the last moment he changed the time of
his arrival. The Shaikh came in to meet him but he sent later to say that as he would be late the Shaikh was
not to bother so he went back, he was rather cross about it. He stayed a long time in the office talking about
his own affairs mostly. Went to the Customs and then to lunch at the Agency. A first rate lunch. The
Resident was very pleasant, he left a little later. Parke was there, very obviously anxious to please. Motored
out to see some of The Shaikh's gardens in the evening and didnt get in till late. Prior came in before dinner.

[PAGES 40 AND 41 MISSING]

Wednesday 25th June 1930

A lot of people to see in the morning, Kozaibi about a land case, he said that of course they knew that I did
not like them but it was the fault of people who wished to make mischief between us, perfectly true, I dont
like them, but it was rather awkward to be told so, he then said I was the only person here who had never
been to dinner with them at their house at Rafaa and when would I come, so I had to name a date. Then I
had the sons and nephews of the Kadi in and told them that they had behaved very badly about their father's
wife, they were rather impudent and said that the lady was no better than she should be and they were
determined to get her out of the house. It seemed a bit hard on the old man who had no such wish
apparently.

Thursday [26 June]

We drove out to see some work that is being done on one of the Shaikh's gardens before breakfast, they are
mending the water channel that connects the garden with the spring, a long job and rather an expensive one.
On the way back we came round by Suk al Khamis, its a weekly market at the big Shia mosque and a very
picturesque occasion, all the country people come in for it bringing donkeys, chickens cattle and all sorts of
pottery and stuff. Pleasant and cool out in the early morning. M went to a show at the Mission school in the
afternoon, from all accounts very inferior to our Government school show. I worked in the office till she
came back. The Shaikh moved in to the Palace. In the evening before dinner we motored up to see the lights
at the Palace. He had every single light burning and every fan on, even the lights in the lavatories. The
Palace looked rather like a liner at night, such a blaze of light. On the roof there are eight big sort of standard
lights that show up from miles away. It really looks very impressive. Barden and Doctor Holmes came to
dinner and afterwards we played Bridge. If the Shaikh goes on at this rate he will have a very big electric bill.
Everyone is tremendously interested in how much electric other people use, the refrigerators use rather a lot
but they are very nice and make excellent ices and iced drinks. Still very nice weather, the "bara" wind has
been unusually strong this year and seems to have lasted extra long, it has been really very cool ever since it
started to blow.