Page 719 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

717

1932

Went down to the J.C. to see the Shaikh, an Oman Shaikh is staying with him, a good looking man with a face like a
hawk and very bright eyes. Talked about some cases. Office, Steele came round and also D.G. to talk business.
Really hot day. I hear that the Khanchieh is turning out very badly but partly perhaps because they have not been able
to dive much owing to the wind most of the season, the sea is quite cool still too. Meeting at Gedhafs in the afternoon,
rather poorly attended and had to wait some time till the people all came. Gardened in the evening when I came back,
after tea. Steele came in in the evening to borrow some books and stayed some time. Abdu Ali came to see me after
dinner. Dull day.

Thursday [5 May]

Very busy morning, saw a lot of people, our customs receipts are the best we have had this year, about 65,000/-. Had
some prisoner down and moved half of the saf fence in the garden, put it up along the vegetable garden at the side of
the house. Had the new recruits on Parade but they spent most of the time learning to put on puttees, they find it
difficult. Meeting at Suk al Khamis in afternoon, a very exciting election, "the chicken man" was returned with a
majority of one vote, it was quite thrilling and the people were very keen about it. Hot day, dry wind. Went along to
D.Gs and played Bridge in the evening, Russell was the fourth. They had been out to the Oil camp yesterday and said
everyone was very gloomy about it all. They are going to start again and dig down to 2500 feet. There is apparently
not enough gas to push the oil up though there is some oil there but they dont know how much. Very disappointing. I
wonder if Holmes knew when he left.

Friday 6th May 1932

No Bridge at the Bank, last week it was such a frost as only four people turned up. Price, one of the men off the
Ormonde came in in the morning to ask a lot of information for the Naval book which gives all sorts of particulars
about the Gulf, "Persian Gulf Pilot". I corrected a few of the most glaring mistakes and referred him to Whitakers
Almanac and Statesman's yearbook which are up to date. Prior came across too and we discussed various things. In
the afternoon went to the Agency, the P.R. and his secretary arrived and Welsh from Oman, it was a deadly dull party
and bad tennis and equally bad Bridge. D.G. took it upon himself to tell people that they should go early as the P.R.
was tired, I said I should go at the time I usually do and no sooner, it always annoys me when he does that sort of thing.
Heard that the oil well is practically a wash out, very disappointing. Prior said that though everyone else seemed to be
sad about it he was very pleased.

Saturday [7 May]

Court. In the morning various people came in and I couldnt get away to the Fort. Gardened in the afternoon as it was
such a nasty day, quite dark and gray and sand blowing but not very hot.

Sunday [8 May]