| Description | Typed transcript of pages 69-136 of Belgrave's diary, covering the period between 29 June and 31 December 1927. Topics covered include a visit to the Muharram festival (6 July), painting and photography (8-9, 15 July, 19 August, 18 November, 9 and 23 December), meeting with religious leaders (18 July), sailing to Doha in Qatar (27-28 July), the wedding of the Shaikh's son Mubarak to Shaikh Abdulla's daughter (8 September), a new election of the Biladya (19-26 September), censorship of gramophone records (11 October), excitement over the arrival of an aeroplane (28 October), a visit from Sir Denys Bray, Secretary of the Foreign Department of the Government of India (3 November, with preparations from 23 October onwards), implementing Bray's policy of replacing European staff with Arabs (19 November), playing the ukelele (22 November), consumption of alcohol and opium (6 December), replacement of medical missionary Harrison with a Dr Dame (10 December) and a New Year's Eve fancy dress party, as well as numerous court cases every week. |