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1932

the Shaikh though it was originally intended for Marjorie, it is a nice thing, very friendly and sociable, but untrained. He says it is a very
good specimen and has very fine points.

Sunday [3 April]

Court. Shaikh Abdulla came in before breakfast and had a talk about a letter he had from the Agency about a man who died in his son's
house, originally a slave. I suspect that the son had as usual laid hands on his belongings, I have heard of such happenings before. Strong
shamaal in the afternoon and quite cold. Drove to Essex point and after tea to the de Greniers where we played Bridge. The mail boat is
very late, should have been in yesterday but now not due till tomorrow.

Monday [4 April]

Court. Shaikh Sulman told me that he had come upon a very old pre Islamic tomb at his garden with a skeleton in it and a jar which he is
going to show me. Motored to Rafaa hill in the afternoon. Parke came in after tea, rather gloomy. After dinner I had a man in who brought
me some information about a petition which he said the people of Muharrak are organising about the court and various other things, most of
which I did not believe.

Tuesday [5 April]

Meeting of the Biladya at Muharrak, warm day but pleasant going across in the launch. Stayed a long time talking to Shaikh Abdulla and
nearly got caught by the tide going out, as it was we went aground several times on the way home. Quite hot walking in the sun. The
meeting was dull but I was able to talk about various things after it. Rashid bin Mohamed, the Shaikh's nephew came in before I went
across and said he could not accept the job of Amir unless he had control over the Police, so I said if he would not accept it we would make
other arrangements, as a matter of fact I am very relieved as I found that his appointment was very unpopular. A lot of people told me how
unsuitable he was. In the afternoon we went for a little drive and then to tea at the Mission as we had been specially asked by Mrs Dame.
They had all the oil people there and everyone else and tea in the dining room which was decorated, after tea Mrs Dame got up and made a
sort of speech about Spring and Love and then sent round little cakes with cardboard hearts on them with the names of Dr Tiffany, the lady
doctor, and Hengie, one of the oil men, the party was to announce their engagement. Holmes and de Grenier made speeches and everyone
shook hands with them and congratulated them, but I think it was a most awful way of announcing an engagement, it seems that they always
have a party for it in America. After tea we went round to Russells and played Bridge.

Wednesday 6th April 1932

Office in morning, saw Steele and various people and attended a meeting of the Wakf Department. In the afternoon we had
our usual tea party. The room looks so nice now that we have so many flowers in the garden, I had a lovely bowl of mauve
and purple flowers, stocks, candytuft and various others and a huge vase full of different sorts of oleandars varying from deep
red to pale pink, they look really lovely now in the garden.