Page 2096 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

2093

1945

Took Max for a ride round the bazaar before breakfast. Saw, in Sook al Arabaa a man apparently auctioning
a small child, carried on his shoulders, which reached 4000. Afterwards heard it is a local custom to do so if
a child is ill, or children die & only one survives - it removes the effect of evil eye. Spent some time at the
Fort, nothing much to deal with there but more men leaving. M & Max went to lunch with Ali bin Khalifah
b Daij at his barasti on the shore near Port Fort. I got up rather late for lunch having had various people in to
see me. In the afternoon we went out in the launch round the islands off Hedd & to the Sitra pier, Max & I
took some photos of boats, a lot of diving boats in ready to set sail. It looked very pretty in the evening light.
Dined with ABJ at his Kozablia house, the Harrisons & Miss Adamson were present, a pleasant little party, a
good dinner.

Thursday 27th June

Office, busy morning. Went to the hospital to discuss new lady doctor & to the customs to discuss result of
first half of year's accounts. We are subsidising some things and have lost a lot of money so to avoid a big
minus at end of year we decided to raise cost of wheat slightly.

Lunched with Khalifah bin Mohd in his house at Muharraq all the brothers present except the oldest - mad -
one. An excellent lunch, the Harrisons & Mylrea present. Sat in the garden in a barasti covered with vines.