AN INTERESTING VISITOR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21973, 23 December 1936, Page 2

AN INTERESTING VISITOR

MRS G. NAIRN, OF BAGDAD LIFE IN THE EAST An interesting visitor to Christchurch is Mrs Gerald Nairn, wife of one of the Nairn brothers who explored the Syrian desert and blazed the trail from Damascus to Bagdad. They set up a motor transport service for mails and passengers between the two cities, thus becoming pioneers of transport for that part of the world. Since first making her home in Palestine. Mrs Nairn has paid several visits to England to recuperate from the effects of the hot climate. She has also returned several times to New Zealand. She has decided that her two small boys shall receive their education in New Zealand, and now for her, as for all British parents who live in Eastern countries, has come the inevitable parting with her children. Her sons will go into residence at St. Andrew’s College, and Mrs Nairn hopes to return to Christchurch in two years, her husband will accompany her. Three Sabbaths a Week Mrs Nairn has had many different homes in the desert. She lived for a time in Jerusalem, in Ammon in Transjordania, in the age-old city of Damascus, and at present her home is in Bagdad. The different aspects of life in the East are always interesting. In Bagdad three separate days are set aside for worship—the Mohammedans observe Friday, the Jews Saturday, and the British Sunday. On Sunday, as well as on other days, the sheiks regularly hold a race meeting, as racing is a favourite sport. The sheiks race their Utile fteet-footed Arab ponies and great crowds, including King Khazi and the British Ambassador and their friends, attend, making these gatherings important social affairs. The Iraq army band supplies the music. At one meeting a silver cup —a gift of the Nairn brothers —was presented by Mrs Nairn to the successful owner.

"Elevenses” At 11 o'clock each day, the women enjoy what they call the “elevenses." They meet to talk and drink an aperitif, sometimes in a cool underground room called the serdab. It has a special brick floor which, every morning, is deluged with water for coolness. The blinds are drawn and the women pass a pieasant hour, but if a sudden sandstorm springs up they experience much discomfort on their homeward journey. Dinner is at 9 o’clock, and many visit the club to dance or play bridge. After sunset Is the favourite time for playing tennis, badminton, or golf. On the King’s Birthday each year a garden party is held in the beautiful grounds of the British Embassy, where the British Ambassador and his wife receive the guests and all the other ambassadors are invited.

Wild Flowers In February and March the wild flowers of the desert are at their best. Blue lupin and anemones of many beautiful shades are more lovely than those that have been cultivated. In contrast to the beauty of the wild flowers is the squalor of the streets, and the primitive methods of collecting garbage. Mrs Nairn will leave Christchurch on January 9 for Sydney, where she will join the Mongolia at the end of the month.