Page 602 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

full of sulphur. I put my hand in it and in a minute my silver signet ring, an Arabic one, had turned quite
black. However that wont harm it from the point of view of cultivation. I am very glad they have got some
water at least. Met the Jordans who were going out to see it. Nice cool day, on our way back it was quite
chilly among the gardens near the water.

Thursday [9 October]

Went up to the Palace at seven oclock, according to the message I had had from Shaikh Mohamed, but the
Shaikh, who was out at Sakhrir didnt arrive for an hour and a half, however I had a long talk with Abdulla bin
Jabr who told me a lot of family news, old Ayesha, Shaikh Isa's wife, is making the old man gift all his property
to Abdulla and Mohamed's sons so that when he dies there will be practically nothing left for the Shaikh who
as the eldest son should come into a lot. It is a great shame. She really is an old cat and hates her stepson.
Eventually the Shaikh arrived with Abdulla and we had a long talk about Ibn Saoud's letter and worked out a
rough draft of a reply. They both agreed that it was a strange letter. From there I went to the Shia school
with Abdulla and we met the Shia Kadi and Abdu Ali and had another long discussion about schools and the
new council. It went off very well and it appeared that the two Shia Kadis have been brought together over
the question of the Education and are now on good terms which is very much better and will help us a lot.
Got back here about ten oclock and then had breakfast. The Beyrout boys were all here though not sent for
so we just ignored them and let them wait and then go away. A lot of office work and various people to see,
then had another talk with the Inspector of Education. Things are going fairly well, we have 50 boys in the
Manama school, 70 at Hedd and 30 at another place and expect 100 in another. Only Muharrak is hanging
back and that was always the seat of the trouble. Motored out in the afternoon with the dogs and dined with
Rosenthal, on our way in we called on de Grenier. Quite a dinner party, including Abdel Rahman Kozaibi who
is Rosenthal's agent and spends most of his time in Paris, rather a nice fellow and goodish looking, he left
after dinner and we played Bridge. There are about ten people, not a very wonderful dinner but very good
champagne and Napoleon brandy, which was lost on me as I never drink it, Rosenthal seemed almost
offended that I refused it, it appears to be something very special. Almost full moon and very nice and cool,
the town looked so pretty as we drove back along the front, it had quite a Venetian look in the moonlight
with the lights reflected in the water in front of the houses. In daytime though it is very ugly.

Friday October 10th 1930

Bank in the morning, two tables of bridge. Drove out in the afternoon and then went into the fort. Dull day,
nothing to write about.

Saturday [11 October]

Court. Shaikh Abdulla came in and took up a great deal of my time over Education matters, we had a long
discussion as to the members of the councils. In the afternoon we had a few people to play tennis, the court
was quite good. Parke and de Grenier and Dr Tiffany came and afterwards we played Bridge, she played a
rubber, but not for money as the Mission dont approve of it. Quite pleasant weather, cool in the evening but