Page 2042 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

2039

1945

HH paid a call on PR & returned visit at Palace. I was at the Fort & did not know about it so had to come
back in a hurry. HH made a long speech about how much he was spending upon public services and also
about the food situation ending up with the remark that if his people starved who would be to blame except
the Brit Gov, it was very much to the point. GP looked more & more sour as the speech proceeded.

Saw the Shia leaders about estate of Haj Mohd al Nakhuda an old Bahrani "i" Ras Roman who left nearly 5
lakhs.

To Jidda in the afternoon, the millet not yet showing - I hoped it would be up. So cold that a fire was quite
pleasant & rather bumpy coming over.

Friday 15th March

At Jidda. Lovely day. Spent a long time designing some patterns for coloured weaving. Took the brown
clay from HH to be tried out as a dye.

Came back after tea - the Balls called, ACOC, quite a pleasant couple, she lived many years in Bayrout.