Page 606 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

at de Greniers, quite a party, everybody except Parke and the Jordans. Played roulette after dinner, quite a
pleasant evening. D.G. told M at dinner that he was expecting someone to come out to marry him in
December and had written to the person at Basra asking if he could come down and marry them. The queer
part of it is that she is not the one who he has told us so much about since he came back, we are very
intrigued about it all. When he went home he told everyone that he was going to look for a wife and all of us,
and the Arabs, quite expected him to bring one back, my idea is that as people are rather joking him about it
he has telegraphed to someone to come out, he must have been carrying on with two, one refused so he
then asked the other, all very queer. Goodness knows what she would be like. We should suffer most as we
should have to see a lot of her. A letter from Gordon having interviewed Holmes and seeming fairly hopeful
about getting a job in the oil company here, but as it was written so long ago, and he expected to know in
about a week I am rather doubtful about it. I do so hope he comes here, it would be so nice for us to have a
couple we know and like. Quite a pleasant party at D.G's.

Sunday 26th [October]

Meeting of the Shia Wakf council. Quite a lively meeting. They are interesting as one hears a lot about their
local customs and affairs. Shaikh sent a draft of his reply to Ibn Saoud's letter, quite well done, just as vague
as the one from I.S. Gardened and then drove along Budeya road with Siwa who ran for seven miles without
appearing tired. Dinner at Shaikh Rashids. Mrs Jordan came to dinner with M. Rather a dull show and not
much of a meal, only Parke, D.G., Prior and Jordan. Afterwards Prior and J came in here. Prior and we
discussed D.G.'s amazing matrimonial affairs. Mail left.

Monday [27 October]

Court. Fahad al Bassam came in to tea but had not much to say. He is getting to look very old. Motored on
Rafaa road and dined with the Jordans, very good dinner, Prior and Walker were there. Played Bridge
afterwards, got very sleepy as we didnt stop till after half past eleven. One of the men in the bazaar has
brought a very fine Chinese bowl for sale, it is dated 1317, Arabic, so not very old, but looks very nice. I dont
know what to offer him.

Tuesday [28 October]
Meeting of the Muharrak Municipal council. I went with Prior in his launch. Quite a brisk meeting, tried to
reduce the price of bread as the price of grain and wood has gone down so low. They want us to make a law
forbidding boys under 15 to go into coffee shops. It will cause a lot of opposition. Saw a lot of people in the
office when I came back. Prior came in after tea thinking that we were having tennis. It was the next day. He
took us out in his car to see the boring at Aali, on the way out, going through the town, a very small but very
naughty boy, a Persian, threw a stone at the car and hit it, Prior got very angry, leapt out before it had
stopped, chased the boy right along the road and carried him back yelling like a pig, put him in the car and
carried him off to the lock up. They are bad in this way and often throw things at cars. D.G. came in later and
M asked him more about his marriage arrangements. It is the case that he is having some one come out to
marry him, if he agrees to some suggestions that she makes in a letter, and if so she will arrive before