Page 1611 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1942

Fort. Office. Saw various people, AK about a gold case, a lot of Kuwaitis are bringing gold here &
smuggling it out of Bn & we find it impossible to catch them so eventually raided a shop & found a
lot. Sent M Jafar to Jidda to see about some building there. Went to call on Hay, always very
friendly. Spent some time with Dixon.

All the pearling fleet has come in for Ramadan & also thinking they may get something from poor
relief. Drove to Budega & crossed by launch. Section changing over. Hunted in the evening, put up
three hares but didnt catch any.

Friday 11th September

At Jidda. Went over to Segirch & was met by Hussain Effendi, walked across to the new cultivation
put up two hares & caught one, Suva ran for nearly 5 minutes. Rode back to the house & had melons
& coffee & then sailed back to Jidda, not very hot even after a long walk. Snow arrived, lunched &
sat talking till tea time, later sailed back to Budega & drove from there home. Snow is a pleasant
companion but the lunch was a complete failure as I got no figs & no vegetables on the island. P.R
left in the morning by Nearchus. Got very burnt in the sun. Heard the Ramadan guns while sailing
back to Budega.

Sold a horse to Mrs Philips for Rs 130/- an old Omani.

Saturday 12th September

1st RAMADAN

Strong Shamaal al dhq & very cool. Fort, I now have the pony here & ride up instead of using the car.
Short parade in Ramadan, one hour. Office, really long day, no one came in & I felt positively sleepy
with so little to do. The early days of Ramadan are always slack. Went over to Muharraq pm &