Page 747 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

1932

arak but with no success which was disappointing. Mohammed got the information but it was a wash out, still it keeps the
people nervous and shows them that the Police, now a days, are active, not always asleep as they used to be. It is funny the way
all the people assume that D.G. is quite useless as a substitute for myself, some dont even mention him.

Thursday [28 July]

Called on Sh Abdulla the Kadi in the morning before breakfast and in the afternoon I went up to the Fort for the Parade and
then went out to call on the other old Kadi at Senobis. A lot of people came round in the morning and all seemed to have heard
that I might be going on leave, all seemed very fussed about it specially as Prior will be away too, Sulman was the most
bothered about it. Very nice cool day, a shamaal blowing and no need of fans and quite clear for a change. Went over to the
Agency in the evening and then to dinner with the Haenggis, the Hakkens were there. They had a very bad dinner, chicken and
tinned peaches and after dinner everyone yawned so much that I felt I ought to go. Mrs Hakken looked very ill indeed. Mrs
Dame has gone down to India as Dame had gone to Jhedda and wired to her to go without him. She had been ill off and on for
some time. The Mission tennis is now off which is one consolation.

Friday 29th July 1932

Tiffah came round in the morning, she seems to be immenently expecting an infant, she wanted me to do something about
getting the Shaikh to sell her a bit of land. Went sailing with Prior, all three boats were out, it was quite fun but my hands got
very cut up by the ropes as it was blowing strong and they needed a lot of holding. Lovely day with a good stiff breeze, it is
quite amazing how cool it has been so far this year. Usual tennis at the Agency in the afternoon. It becomes duller and duller.

Saturday [30 July]

Dull day, at the Fort before breakfast and then in court and up at the Fort again in the afternoon, afterwards I looked in on D.G.
in the evening.

ON LEAVE

Saturday 10th September 1932

Left the Pickerings house very early before it was light and motored slowly down to the R.A.F. depot at Margil, on the river, it
was very cool in fact almost chilly in the early morning before the sun got up. We dawdled about for a long time as it seemed
rather a business getting the three flying boats off but eventually we got aboard. I was in the one driven by Welsh the Group
Captain and with me Fletcher of the Imperial Airways and another R.A.F. officer. We went down the river on the water, taxi-
ing, as they call it, for quite a long way passing a lot of boats that were anchored in the river waiting to ship dates to Europe
and America, finally we rose up from the river into the air. It was very interesting flying over the gardens and the villages on