Page 853 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1934

Quite a warm day, holiday owing to the Eid. Motord out to Saman & had a look at the oranges & picked
two more. Then sat in the garden & worked in the garden moving seedlings. I have masses of things in
the garden this year but all a long way off flowering. After lunch went up to the Palace to pay a call on
the Shaikh, a great crowd of people there, he looked very fine in a white abba with gold thread and a
scarlet under robe. His winter clothese are more handsome than his summer ones. Afterwards called on
Shaikh Sulman in his garden house. Drove to Aali later on with the family & took some photographs. In
the evening we had people in to Bridge, three tables. They stayed on very late. A terrific shamall
suddenly blew up in the evening and as it was an abnormal high tide I was very worried over boats hitting
the electric wires along the sea front. Icy cold evening & a real hurricane wind.

Thursday 19th [18th January]

Went to Muharraq to pay calls. Visited Shaikh Abdulla where I found most of the men from the Mission.
It was warmer in the town but quite cold. Abdulla had a handsome brass brazier with charcoal burning in
it to warm the room. As usual he had his little grandson there, dressed exactly like a Shaikh in miniature.
Then went to call on Shaikh Rashid. The Shaikh came in and stayed some time talking entirely about the
road to Muharraq. Every time he goes there the people ask him to build it but none of them appreciate
how much it would cost & that the Government has no money. Called on the Kozaibis in their new
office. Very well built. Abdu Aziz seemed to think the idea of having celebrations on the Shaikh's
accession day was rather silly. Then called on Yusuf Kanoo who was in a room above the office having
let the other rooms to Americans. He talked a lot about complaints that are being made about the prison
administration, which rather annoyed me. Khalil Baka recently released after serving three months for
selling cultured pearls has been stirring the people up and organising trouble. Yusuf Kanoo had to go to
mosque so I said I would see him tomorrow. He was rather tiresome and seemed in some things to agree
with what Khalil Baka had been saying. A relation of YK's has lately done six months as a fraudulent