Page 595 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Tuesday [23 September]

Didnt attend the Municipal meeting as I heard there was nothing of any interest going on. I let Jordan go in
order to explain a proposed system of subsidised wiring in the houses. I am not altogether in favour of it as
we are so short of funds this year, any other time I would have welcomed it. Went to the Customs. Abdel
Latif al Materi left and Rosenthal arrived. They almost passed eachother on the customs. It is a pity that all
these big pearl merchants dont come at once and stay here at the same time, each likes to have the market
to himself and resents anyone else coming. Rosenthal came by launch from Kuwait and Hilal left by launch to
Kuwait. Hot damp day. Tennis at the Mission, quite good tennis as there were a lot of people there. Dined
at Pack's to meet Rosenthal, there were eight people so two tables of Bridge. Rosenthal is a distinguished
looking man with a beard, he does not look like a Jew. He is immensly rich and owns race horses which he
breeds in France and races in England. He is in with all the well known Jews, Rothchilds, and such like. He is
a widower. I liked him, he was pleasant to talk to and did not boast of his money. He has been coming here
for over 20 years but has not been lately, not since the year we were last on leave. He and his two brothers
are the heads of the firm, one of the brothers was at Eton and in the Guards and was I believe at one time a
M.P. so is I suppose English. Quite a good dinner with very excellent champagne. Pack is such a good host
always. Trade in general seems very bad in Europe according to Pack and Rosenthal.

Wednesday 24th September

The Shaikh came back from Sakhrir and I went up to call on him in the morning. I thought he looked rather
ill. Discussed the question of one of the Kadis resigning and also finances. He will not pay proper attention
to the money affairs of the state, or his own either. Stayed there some time. Sulman was there and a lot of
people in the Meglis including the Oman shaikh who is living on Shaikh Hamed. It really is insufferable the
way these people come and cadge from him, this man is of no importance and has a bad record. He was
guardian of two sons of a shaikh down in Oman and in their minority he tried to get the shaikhdom himself,
then the two boys found out what he was up to ran away, got help and came back and pushed him out and
took back their country. He now lives somewhere on the coast and goes on a sort of begging expedition
every year. Went round to the Power House with Jordan. Abdulla, one of the Shaikh's sons who went down
to India, came to call. He had been to an oculist and seemed to see much better. He was quite interesting
and talkative though when other people are there he never opens his mouth. Parke came in the morning
and showed us his final report of the Todd case. It is really quite good, he has not missed any points. I
wonder what the Resident will do about it. Kozaibi called, the one who is Rosenthal's agent and lives mostly
in Paris. Played bridge at Parke's, the doctor was the fourth, he looks rather mad and speaks very queerly at
times. Having the house painted.

Thursday 25th September 1930

Office. Had people to tennis in the afternoon, all the Mission and all the other people as well. The court was
not very good still one was able to play on it. Afterwards had Bridge. We have now a green hedge along one