Page 141 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

things of no importance. Drove out in the afternoon & then had people to tea & Bridge, then we all went to a circus, a small
show mainly gymnastics & acrobatic performance by a man & his wife, from Cairo. I enjoyed it very much. A German cargo
boat ashore at Hedd.

Friday 7th Dec. [January]

Went over to the Shaikh's at 10 and got back at 4.30 - and Friday is a holiday! Went to Abdulla's house & had a long talk with
Abdulla & the Shaikh, they became quite free & easy, discussing wives, Abdulla is thinking of divorcing one of his four - tired
of her - & the Shaikh remonstrated with him remarking to me, "he has four, if he had eight he wouldn't think it enough" to
which A replied "Four are sufficient, one sometimes divorces one & takes a new one"! Also learnt that in the Khalifa (Royal)
family the dowry of a bride is always the same, Rs 400/- but presents of course vary. A number of Tajars & narkhudas arrived
& there was a discussion about new diving rules & police etc. at the end of it they tried to rush the Shaikh into appointing
members for the diving court, & he practically agreed, the men proposed being two of the most notoriously corrupt judges of
the former Court. I determined to squash that!