Page 489 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

487

1929

Friday October 18th 1929

Went to the Bank in the morning and played Bridge. In the afternoon I had tennis on the Agency Court and Bridge
after the tennis. All the people here came so we had eleven people, one more and we should have three tables. They
drank over a bottle of whiskey between them, it makes such occasions rather expensive. The Frenchmen are very
lively, I like them. Parke as usual takes Bridge very seriously and gets really angry when he loses. He is really a
terribly bad loser, I have rarely seen a worse, he doesnt play well either so he generally goes down. Cool day and a
shamaal blowing, we sat inside and had most of the windows shut.

Saturday [19 October]

Shaikh Mohamed came in the morning. He is a great nuisance. He has now got some worry about some land of his.
Horrid little man. Had dinner out at Juffair with one of the lesser shaikhs, a very dull deaf little man. Sulman was
there and very lively, also Shaikh Rashid. Quite pleasant sitting on an outside sort of platform close to the sea with a
moon coming up over the water. No more news from the mainland, but I hear that the Negdis here are still saying that
Ibn Saoud has gained a victory instead of being defeated. Played Bridge at the Customs after dinner.

Sunday [20 October]

Went round and had a look at the Power House. They have done the foundations now and are waiting for the iron part
to arrive. Busy morning in the office. Tennis at the Mission and dinner at the Bank. Discussed the pearl case. It is
apparently causing a great deal of interest.

Monday [21 October]

Started on the pearl case. It is a very long affair and what I consider a "good case". The man is a nasty young fellow, a
brother in law of Shaikh Mohamed's. His relations came and sat in the passage listening to the case. I have no doubt
about his being guilty though I am not sure about his being certain it was a japanese one. It will take several hearings.
Tennis at the Mission. They are all back now. Pennings has lost his voice for some reason, he looks very sick, the
others seemed very well. Dame took me round his garden afterwards, he has some nice things in it and lots of water,
far more than I have. Wanted to get hold of Parke and D G. afterwards but couldnt find them. Ali bin Hussein came in
after dinner.

Tuesday [22 October]

Went up in the morning to see Parke in order to avoid Shaikh Mohamed who I knew was coming in to bother about
something. I found him waiting, with an injured expression, when I got back. He is fussing about some land of his
which he sold to Mohamed Yatim he evidently thinks he can get some more money out of him by pretending he didnt
sell a piece that was really included in the sale. Meeting of the Muharrak Biladya, dull. Dame came to see me when it