Page 803 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Had a special court for the Gedhafs case. Some time ago we got onto a gang of thieves & found their headquarters &
rounded them up & we are now trying them, quite an interesting case. Tennis party in evening, a great many people,
the SNO & some sailors & the pearl merchants & Major Malone the Residency doctor from Bushire who is staying at
the Agency. I had two setts & then Gastrell arrived & asked me to motor out to see the Shaikh about some telegrams
from London about oil. Left the party & went off: we arrived at Sakhrir shortly before Shaikh's dinner time & he was a
trifle bored at being kept so long. The gist of the matter was that B.G. asked him to have no communication with
Holmes re oil except through the Political Agent. The Shaikh agreed to this. Holmes had told Colonial Office that I
had seen the draft agreement, which I did, but I see no argument in that. It was very cool out at Sakhrir & a delightful
drive there & back. I had not seen the electric light before at Sakhrir & it was very nice. Came back & found the party
still here, at about 8 oclock, and getting very bright, some of them had 6 whiskies & sodas, they had 2½ bottles
between tea & leaving! The Shaikh is very thick headed over the oil business & cannot get it straight in his head. I am
a little worried over oil but glad Lock is not here & Gastrell acting, he is easy to manage. These endless telegrams are
such a bore as each means long interviews with the Shaikh & he gets more & more confused. Mail arrived.

Thursday [3rd August]

Very cool day. Before breakfast I took the S.N.O up to the Fort to see the Police on parade, a private visit as his
uniform was on board, he is staying at the Agency. He seemed to be really impressed with them and I must say they
did look very smart. He went all over the Fort & was very interested in all he saw. Then I took him all round the
bazaars and to the municipal garden & back to the Agency. I found him very pleasant and most keen on seeing
everything. He asked a lot of questions. Shaikh Abdulla called & we discussed oil matters. His version was that the
APOC were now persuading the British Government to do everything possible to oppose the American Company so as
to get in here - and I don't think he is so far wrong either. Office. Went to the Customs where I worked for over an
hour, saw Steele & had a long talk about electric matters. In afternoon M went to call on Sh Abdulla's wife at Abu
Zeila. I saw Zayani about pearls and old Bassam came in to tea, the old fellow seemed better than when I last saw
him. Was in the garden till sunset, the new piece I have taken in will be very nice once I get things growing in it. A
very big dinner party at the Agency in the evening, 21 people, a lot of sailors off the ship & all the local population.
After dinner we sat on the roof & some danced. It was deliciously cool, amazing weather for 3rd of June [sic]. Major
Holmes arrived on the airmail, he is ill & went to bed at once, dysentry. Spoke to him on the 'phone. Discussed silugis
with Sh Abdulla who said black ones were no use in hot weather as they always tired so soon. I've never heard that
before.

Friday 4th August