Page 826 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Friday 20th [October]

Bazaar in morning, gardened after lunch, my seeds seem to be coming up fairly well. I am rather late
planting this year. A strong shamaal and quite cool. Agency in afternoon, the Gastrells were out sailing
which everyone thought very rude, they lack manners! People showed what they thought. Had a talk with
Skinner & Gastrell about oil, the former has been told by his Company to renew application for extension of
the lease another year and said they would pay Rs 25,000 down, to the Shaikh, and 75,000/- loan on future
royalties. He wanted to negociate then and there but we both refused to. He was quite annoyed. I dont
think it is enough myself. I dont think the Shaikh will consider it at all. Stayed very late at the Agency talking
business in the office - that too annoyed the other people.

Saturday Oct 21st

Fort, Court, I was interrupted several times by the RAF who came down, Hudson the Public Works man &
another young man who is a sort of Intelligence Officer & always comes to ask me for news, I imagine his
reports must be very weird as he knows nothing of local conditions etc. One of the prisoners escaped while
working at the Shaikh's garden near the Palace. Put in more seeds. Went to the Biladya garden in the
afternoon. The Gastrells gave a picnic & bathing party at Ain al Hakim - we went late to avoid mixed bathing
which I dont care for here. About twenty people, several RAF. Took two police to look for the escaped
prisoners, they got him near a village. The party was rather a flop. The new Group Captain Saul was there,
also Welsh who is leaving Basrah for a job at home. Sandy dry & very foggy. Tiffah brought a long message
from old Lady Ayesha the Shaikh's stepmother who wants me to fight her battles against the Shaikh - she has
always hated him & been unpleasant to him during his father's time & now he is getting his own back & she
doesnt like it. I think as a matter of fact he is rather nasty to her now. Very glad to have caught the prisoner,
he was a long sentence man and a bad hat.

Sunday 22nd [October]

Court. Sulman did not come as he is moving house across to Muharraq. Office. Motored in afternoon.

Monday [23nd October]

Fort, customs, office. The Khalil Bakr case was finished, he got six months and fine Rs 4000/-. Motored to
Senian & looked at the seeds. Bridge at the Steeles.

Tuesday 24th [October]