Page 47 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1926

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Diving Court in the morning, not many cases. Daly came to the office afterwards. Hot day, temperature 102 after
lunch on the veranda, but dry heat, not a bit damp. Arabic lesson after tea, M played tennis at the Spences. To
dinner with Haj Abdel Rahman at Zayani, a rich pearl merchant who has a big house outside the town by the sea, a
most pleasant entertainment. We motored there with the Dalys. On arrival sat outside the house on a sort of terrace
carpeted with mats & cushions round the side. The Spences, Pickering, Holmes, & de Grenier, Abdel Aziz Kuseiley,
the Sheikh of Rafaa & some others made the party. Mrs Spence wore evening dress! Not the correct costume. She
had never before been to a native dinner! she giggled & gesticulated over much. The dinner was in the big "Meglis"
room, a really noble room, & cool. As a concession to the others they had a table & chairs - I was rather sorry - but no
knives & forks - three whole lambs, beautifully cooked & innumerable dishes, really most excellent food. After dinner
we returned to the terrace & sat there for some time drinking coffee & talking. Sat next to Sheikh Mahmud, a
pleasant man who talked of silugis & hunting, he offered me a silugi puppy - I should rather like one. Afterwards
went a motor drive with the Dalys. The hosts little daughter & son appeared, very nice little children, the girl a tiny
thing with enormous black eyes dressed exactly as a grown up woman would dress. The host is a very nice fellow,
rather dark with evident negro blood, & said to be very touchy on that account. Cool breeze in the evening refreshing
after such a very hot day.

Friday [4th June]