Page 249 - Belgrave Diaries 1945_Neat

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Took Max for a ride round the bazaar before breakfast. Saw, in Sook al Arabaa a man apparently auctioning
a small child, carried on his shoulders, which reached 4000. Afterwards heard it is a local custom to do so if
a child is ill, or children die & only one survives - it removes the effect of evil eye. Spent some time at the
Fort, nothing much to deal with there but more men leaving. M & Max went to lunch with Ali bin Khalifah
b Daij al his barasti on the shore near Port Fort. I got up rather late for lunch having had various people in to
see me. In the afternoon we went out in the launch round the islands off Hedd & to the Sitra pier. Max & 1
took some photos of boats, a lot of diving boats in ready to set sail. It looked very pretty in the evening light.
Dined with ABJ at his Kozablia house, the Harrisons & Miss Adamson were present, a pleasant little party, a
good dinner.

Thursday 27th June

Office, busy morning. Went to the hospital to discuss new lady doctor & to the customs to discuss result of
i ^ first half of year's accounts. We are subsidising some things and have lost a lot of money so to avoid a big
minus at end of year we decided to raise cost of wheat slightly.

/ ■ Lunched with Khalifah bin Mohd in his house at Muharraq all the brothers present except the oldest - mad -
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i* one. An excellent lunch, the Harrisons & Mylrea present. Sat in the garden in a barasti covered with vines.

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