Page 643 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

641

1931

all but one have got distemper and looked as if they would die. The doctor came in to tea and Parke came in later on. Dinner
at the Agency, the Dames and the American consul, a very dull dinner. He is by no means teatotal and took quite a lot to drink
much I think to the Dames' disgust. He told several very old stories rather badly and tried to pretend that they were true,
ancient chestnuts, but quite a nice fellow and very keen on shooting and hunting.

Friday [20 February]

Spent most of the morning paying calls in the Suk. Went to Shaikh Abdul Latif, Kanoo and Shaikh Jasim who I had not been
to see for a long time. He, and his nasty sons, seemed very pleased by my going there. The old man is rather striking, quite
blind and very old but his brain seems as active as ever. He held me by the hand and made very long speeches and I felt rather
like a small boy. While I was there the nather and all the Sunni masters came in to call, he seemed to have a very good opinion
of them. Lovely day with no rain at all, cold but very sunny. Wrote in the afternoon at my history and then went to the
Agency. Had some quite good tennis and then Bridge. Prior is publishing a proclamation from the Agency on my suggestion,
saying that all wills are to be administered by him, it is part of the order in council but has apparently never been acted on.
When this has been done by the Agency it will be possible for us to do the same, he, in fact is "holding the baby" for us. I
think there will be a lot of opposition, it will be rather interesting to see what happens. There will be a good old row as the
clerical party will be in most violent opposition to the whole affair. Mail due tomorrow evening and as usual nothing of cargo
as she is sailing the same night.

Saturday 21st February 1931

Went over to Muharrak to pay calls, found several people out which was convenient and saved time. Thomas, the ex Adviser
of Muscat, arrived in the morning from the mainland and camped himself at the Agency much to Prior's disgust. He says he
has trecked from right down south of Muscat up to here along the desert, the Ruba al Hali, he seems to take no interest in
Muscat and when Prior talked of the money affairs there all he said was "I expect the new man will settle them". He is waiting
for the next down mail. He is wearing Arab clothes and according to Prior doesnt seem to worry about washing or changing
them. I paid a long call on Yusuf Fakroo and found Ali bin Abdulla there, they were quite pleasant and very talkative, then to
Ali bin Seggar who did not look as bad as I expected but had a lot of people in his Meglis. He has been branded in 24 places, a
strange cure for a stroke. He was seated on a divan at the end of a very stuffy little room. A lovely day and very nice in
Muharrak. After lunch went over to the Agency and Prior I and Yusuf Kanoo had a long talk about the question of Minors and
dedicated money. The Agency are going to push out an elan on the subject which will certainly cause a great commotion.
Y.K. was for postponing it but eventually agreed that under all circumstances it would be best to issue it now. Went to call on
the two Shia Kadis with Prior in his car. Shaikh Abdulla looked very smart and picturesque in a deep blue robe with a rich
brown abba and a huge white turban. Went on from there to Senobis and called on the old Kadi who seemed very merry and
looked much younger than he did during Ramadan. While at Abdulla's all the school boys came and played their band outside
this house. He looked really eastern sitting on his sofa in his brilliant blue robe with a blue black beard. I saw Thomas in the
distance when at the Agency all dressed up as an Arab, he looked very pink rather like a Syrian. Played Bridge at the Fort with
Parke and the de Greniers. Quite a busy day. Thomas is going back to Muscat to hand over and then going for good. He
seems to have behaved abominably and doesnt seem to care in the least. In the evening Abdu Ali came in to call so I got him