Page 1198 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1196
1196
1940

Thursday 24th March

Had breakfast early & went out to Sakhrir where we had a long discussion about oil & eventually fixed up
just what we are offering as terms. HH came in from Rumaitha & seemed in good form. Abdulla's small son
& Day's son were both produced. Came back & spent a long time in Agency discussing oil & then worked at

it here. Drafted letters & notes to be ready by Saturday so that PR can send them off from here by air mail.

Went to the hospital after tea, it is getting on well, & then to Sanyan for a bathe. After an early dinner went
to the movies, not a very good film, about prize fighters.

Friday 25th March

Left after an early breakfast & drove to Matala, stormy sort of day but quite cool. Met the Camel Section
there and rode with them to Ras al Birr, the end of the island, rather a disappointing spot, just a long strip

of sand with some brushwood, no birds nesting. We saw lots of gazelle on the way there. I had a launch
waiting for me & went out to one of the islands, called Noon, there were two others but the launch was
small & the sea rough so I left the rest. Rode back to Matala & then drove to Seddad where I had another
bathe & a good tea, then back to Manama. Got very sunburnt - found letter from M & Aunt L waiting for
me.

Saturday 26th March

Fort. Very busy morning finishing off all the papers about oil concessions over the additional area. Went

over to the Agency. Mrs Weightman left by air & Fowle by boat. Madarns, the auditor, left as well. I liked
him & he seemed efficient. Stormy looking windy day. Slept after lunch & then went out, some people
from Bilad came worrying about a doctor so I took Sivie round in my car & met Thornburg who had been to
the tomb where they had found some very nice glass vases, beads, & bits of metal, quite a new style of
stuff. Thornburg came back to the house & we washed the finds & then went out to dinner with them &
again to the cinema, which I saw on Saturday & didn't think it any better. Very stormy evening.