Page 1258 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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Saturday 29th April

Fort in morning, did some more scenic painting assisted by the two Russian stowaways. Had quite an
undisturbed morning as HH with a crowd of relations, hangers on & servants went over to the mainland to
visit Ibn Saoud - the whole arrangement very confused & muddled. The people here have no idea of system
or civilised custom - an hour after they sailed came a wire from BS enquiring when they were coming. Serve
them right if nobody expected them. Hot day. Drove round in afternoon, palace, hospital & fort. Had a
rehersal of tattoo after an early dinner. M dined at Storms. Now hear that the Amir Faisal is coming, to add

to the fuss & confusion. Shall be glad when visit is over.

Sunday 30th April

Didn't got to fort. Worked quietly in office all morning. Shaikhs all returned in the afternoon from their
mainland visit, I didn't see them - for a change. Alarms & excursion at night as we expected Saoud to arrive
at about 3.30. At 11.15 a telegram from the King to say he would arrive next day.

Monday 1st May

Fort in morn ing, MT up there painting scenery, he does it very well. Went down to pier & to palace &
round about, then had breakfast & went down to meet the Amir Saoud who arrived by launch from
mainland. HH was there and quite a lot of the Shaikhs, then HH went to the Agency & we went over to
Muharraq. The Amir was looking very well & very aimable, he had the usual brilliantly dressed black slaves
with him, wearing short coats of scarlet, orange, green & vermillian with a lot of gold threadwork on them,
carrying rifles & slung with daggers & swords. With him was Khaled and several other relations. We crossed
to Muharraq & motored to the landing ground, it was hot, & rather uncomfortable there & no place to sit,
the Amir sat in shade of a barasti. The aeroplane, Atlanta, was specially chartered & brought Faisal & the
party from Egypt. Faisal looks clever, very like his photographs, smaller & finer & thinner than Saoud, very

acquiline features & quite a pleasant smile, but I prefer Saoud. Hafiz Wahaba was of the party, plain, plump
& quite a pink tinge, also a tall unpleasant looking Egyptian & a couple of others. Much embracing & then
we all crossed over, they in a terribly top heavy launch to the Manama side & they drove off to Rafaa.