Page 663 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

661

1931

Ali Zainal, the big pearl merchant who comes to London every year. It was very well done and the food extremly good, as a
rule I dont care much for Arab dishes but these were so very well cooked. There were a lot of people, English and Arabs and
he mixed them at the table which was wise. Afterwards we had people to play ...

Wednesday 11th November

The boat came in yesterday with Major Holmes on board. Went along to the court to see the Shaikh, he and Prior had a bit of a
row, Prior tackled him about a case without making sure of his facts and the old man got very cross and showed it. Holmes
came to call and then Jordan, Holmes stayed to lunch and before I had finished the Shaikh came round to see me and fairly
went off the deep end about Prior, he was very angry indeed, and he can be at times. He came yesterday too, but that was just
a call, he admired the painting of James, the "Walad Hamed" as he calls him, very much and was very interested in seeing all
his photos. Later we had our weekly tennis party, again about twenty people, tennis and then Bridge for those who play, they
seem to like it very much and its a good way of entertaining but rather an effort as some of the people are so heavy and just sit
about on chairs waiting to be talked to. The missionaries always go early, fortunately. Prior came over again in the evening
and is evidently very worried at the Shaikh getting annoyed with him, he is far too fond of interfering and it is madness to talk
about cases without being sure of the particulars. Our mud court plays very well now and the more it is used the better it
seems.

Thursday [12 November]

A terrible thing happened this morning, one of the electric wires along the sea road fell down and three men were electrocuted.
We have not yet found out why it happened but the men were standing in water which had the effect of making it worse.
Court. Had a talk to Shaikh Sulman about the business between Prior and his father, he was very interested indeed. Played
tennis at the Agency, a mans four, M went out and had a driving lesson in the car and then came to the Agency for tea. In the
evening we had a dinner party, the Steeles, the de Greniers, Miss Tiffany, Parke, Holmes and Ham, the new Bank Manager,
went off quite well and a good dinner, afterwards some played Bridge the others played pontoon, they stayed till nearly one
oclock!!! Had very good tennis at the Agency in the afternoon.

Friday [13 November]

Went to the Bank in the morning and played two rubbers of Bridge then to lunch with Major Holmes, after lunch we drove out
to the place where they are boring for oil, in the middle of the island behind the mountain. It is simply wonderful, there in the
middle of the desert they have a little town of portable houses and masses of complicated machinery and a rig 300 feet high,
we met all the men who seemed very decent fellows, and the Manager, a man called Skinner, showed us all round and then we
had tea with him and his wife who has just come out. Their arrangements are wonderful, they have every comfort possible, hot
and cold water laid on, indoor sanitation, a marvelous kitchen with oil stoves and huge ovens, an ice making machine and
many refrigerators, wireless and every sort of luxury that money can provide in the middle of the desert. They are said to have
spent, up to now £400,000 and they are prepared to spend half a million just seeing if there is oil there or not. It really is very
wonderful and so strange to arrive suddenly round a corner among the rocks out in the desert and to find all this civilization
where a few months ago there was simply nothing existing.