"ملف ٤/ ٦ الزيارات الرسمية بين قادة السفن البريطانية، وشيوخ البحرين والكويت وقطر والساحل المتصالح." [و‎‎٧] (١٢٨/١٣)

other more senior official be present he will be seated on the
Sultan’s right. Should the visit be to introduce an official
of lower rank than the Consul the Consul will be seated to the
right of the Sultan and the visitor to the left of the Sultan.
T^e Sultan’s relatives and officers of State will take their
seats according to custom.
(c) After the business for which the vieit is being made has
been transacted the bultan will offer the most senior official
coffee. This will be accepted with thanks. Muscat ’’halwa”
will be served to each individual in turn in order 4f
precedence. The senior visitor will be pressed by the Hultan
to help himself first. The visitor will at first decline but
on again being pressed will t ke a small portion of sweet from
the tin nearest to him with the fingers of the right hand. The
Sultan will help himself in like manner at th? s me time from
the tin nearest to him. Only one piece of sweet should be
taken in spite of the Sultan’s suggestion th t the visitor should
again partake. silver finger bowl will next oe presented
and ragain the visitor should protest at being the first to dip
hie fingers in the water but should do so on being pressed.
Next a white cloth will be presented and the fingers should be
dried at once without protest. On the occasion of the Tdd
visits two bowls are normally brought in and the Consul and the
Sultan wash their fingers at the same time.
1J, hen the company have cleansed their fingers servants will
enter with coffee and handless cups. The server will hand a
cup to the Sultan ;who will hand it to the principal guest who
should accept it without protest but with thanks. Only one
cup of coffee should be taken. Then it is clear that the
Sultan has finished + he server will rao 'e forward and will ae
motioned to take the principal visitor’s cup. The principal
visitor will resign his cup to the server with a slight shake
to indicate th»t he does not require any more. Then all the
cups have been collected the servants will bring in a rose
water container and will approach the Sultan who will motion
him to the principal visitor who should politely protest at