Page 919 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

917

1935

Thursday 6/12/34

Went over to Muharraq & Hedd before breakfast with Mohammed Khalil to see about the police station
building. We walked all along the sea road as far as one can go & then took a sailing boat across & then by
car. Crossed the aerodrome just as the air mail arrived. Spent some time looking at the site of the police
station & then came back. Shaikh Rashid came in to call & talked about Tesqaam, the naufchuda want to
reduce the amount this year. Went off at about one o'clock taking sandwiches for lunch to Sakhrir. Rain
yesterday and very grey & stormy looking but the roads in good order. Drank coffee with the Shaikh & then
went off with him in a car crammed full with his servants, hawks, guns & sand & mud & visited the various
places which he claims as his private property & which have to be shown on the oil company's map. It was
rather a boring expedition. Got back just in time for tea, some of the oil people called, a very scotch people,
the Somervilles, quite harmless. In the evening we had a dinner party, the Recton, the Hakkem, de Grenier &