Page 25 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1926

very geneal. He really is an awfully nice old fellow, & very shrewd at times too. The country looked most attractive.
Wonderfully cool out in the desert in the middle of the Island. The mail is due tomorrow, from India. The Sheikh is
feeling rather depressed as his three boys are going back to school at Basra tomorrow. The Sheikh said that my
coming was like a lantern in a very dark night, the dark night being the awful complications of the accounts of his
private income, which he wants me to partially manage for him. I can imagine how furious a good many of his
followers will be at not being able to get as much money from him as they expect to.

Monday [26th April]

I think my clerks find it rather a bore going to office at 7 am as they are not accustomed to it. My head clerk ill - a
great nuisance. He is a mild little Indian & quite a good clerk, another one is an old Arab, a dignified person with
beard, & another Indian, but I hope to get some more. It all means a great deal of work, getting the office into order
& running smoothly. The office is quite a comfortable place, next to the Customs, facing the pier & looking down
onto the crowds of boats which come alongside the wharf, a very gay interesting view. My room is above & the
clerks down below. It is quite cool with windows all round so that I can get a draft through any direction, the only
"snag" is having de Grenier next door. He constantly comes in & wastes my time.

Tuesday [27th April]