Page 820 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

above the sea horizon from the fires on the ships & all night sound of drums & chanting and of the men
bringing in the ships & rowing. Pack & Ham came to dinner.

Sunday lst October

Fort - Court. One of the men from the oil camp came down and put us in a water supply, a tank on the roof
& a pump down below & a pipe into M's bathroom and a shower bath in my bathroom. It will be very nice &
I hope some day we will be able to have even more of a water supply. Went out with Skinner after tea, in his
car, to see various things he wants to do to improve the road. He seemed very subdued.

Monday [2nd October]

Sh Sulman came round in the morning & talked again for hours about his wretched claim for the taxes on the
slaughter house, the survival of the old rights which shaikhs used to possess. I was very bored by him & he
kept me from doing other work for a long time. Drove round about in the afternoon and played Bridge at the
Steeles. The Gastrells arrived on the down mail.

Tuesday [3rd October]

Police. Went to Agency & discussed various things then Gastrell & Mrs Gastrell came over to talk about the
naval visit. She is very tall & lanky but quite attractive. The captain of the Nearchus was at the Agency & said
he was very suspicious about the buoys which appeared to have been deliberately let loose. Customs.
Russell came to see me & stayed a long time.

Wednesday [4th October]

Police. Shaikhs Abdulla and Sulman came to see me about Abdulla's son Rashid who was caught by his father
making arak and very drunk. Abdulla was very angry but Sulman persuaded him to forgive the son, which he
didnt deserve. They stayed a long time, I thought Sulman was rather tiresome about it all. Customs & Police
Station. Tennis party as usual in the afternoon. Abdulla bin Fabr came round after dinner sent by Ayesha
whose servants had had a row with Sulman's servants, as both families are on bad terms it was very
awkward. Sent a Policeman out to see about it. Ayesha wanted me to arrest the people at once - they were
all women.

Thursday 5th October