Page 1199 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1197
1197
1940

Monday 28th March

Bad fire at Swaifich. Warm sunny day.

Wednesday 30th March

Went out to the boat with M in the morning, Abdulla & most of the younger Shaikhs came to see him off.

They all wept & sobbed , except Sulman. Abdulla took it quite calmly & seemed pleased & not at all
nervous. Got back quite early. Office. Green came to see me about YK's affairs. I think it will end in a
smash. Didn't have tennis & didn't go out in the afternoon. Sent a big bunch og stocks out to Mrs
Thornburg.

Large party at the Thornburgs, over 40 people, a pleasant party & not the usual style, quite a lot of English

people. T made a speech, it was their 20th Wedding Anniversary. Took Skrimshire out & back in my car.

Thursday 31st March

Fort. Office. Shaikhs D M & S came rounf but did not stay long. Had an early lunch & then drove to Jufair.
A very strong south wind, expected to find the sea rough but it was not. Took under three hours to reach
Hawar. The Fort showed up from a long distance away & looked more & more impressive as it got nearer.
There is quite a good little pier & on arrival I found the Police drawn up on line at the end of it. A lot of
boats in the bay & quite a busy settlement, camels, cows & donkeys. The people of the village all came up

to call. Settled in in the upper room of the tower, a most attractive room with stairs up to the roof & stairs
down, rather like a windmill. No water yet but still drilling. Had quite a good dinner.

We caught a big chanard on the way over on a rough hook with a bit of lead wrapped in silver paper. The
Fort is exactly what I had planned & looks most effective, built for defence not for show, but the effect is
much like a desert outport in a "movie".

Friday 1st April