Page 603 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Parke, de Grenier and the Pennings came to dinner, a dull party and Parke showed what he thought of it by
yawning every minute. Pennings looked very ill. D.G. talked about his trip home, he travelled across half the
countries in Europe. Played Bridge at Todd's with the Jordans so got late for dinner, our guests had arrived
when we got back.

Thursday [16 October]

The boat came in, very late. The Agriculturist arrived at last, I had him met and taken to the school to lodge
for the time being with the masters there. Abdulla bin Shaikh Ibrahaim haunts my office trying to persuade
us to send him back to school, we are not going to send him to Beyrout but are sending him to Baghdad. The
Kozaibis have been behaving badly again, some of their servants set on a servant of Shaikh Mohamed's son at
Rafaa and took him off in ropes and kept him a prisoner for half a day. The Police are prosecuting them and
they, as usual, are very angry. Parke and the Doctor came to tennis and afterwards played Bridge, very good
Bridge, they both play well and we had some very exciting games.

Friday [17 October]

Bank. The Jordans were there and he made several rude remarks to people while playing. His manners are
deplorable. M had very bad tooth ache yesterday and in the evening she asked the doctor to pull out the
tooth but he couldnt get it out after tugging and tugging for a long time.

Motored to Rafaa hill in the evening. Stuffy day, feels as if there was going to be a storm soon.
Finished reading The old wives tale, and started Carlyle's French Revolution. Heavy stuff but interesting.

Saturday [18 October]

My silugi was found dead on the road, it had picked up some of the poison which they have been putting
down for dogs. Very sad. Court, a big case between Mohamed Yatim and the ex Secretary of the Biladya.
The Agriculturist came to see me in the morning, a decent looking young man who looks as if he would not
mind working. He is a Christian Iraki from Mosul. Took him out with us in the afternoon to one of the
Shaikh's gardens, then we went in to see de Grenier and stayed there for some time. Prior returns tomorrow.

Sunday 19th October 1930

Prior came ashore in the morning, the boat having arrived late at night. He had his meals with us. M had her
tooth taken out by Dame and Todd with Tiffany assisting. Prior had no special news except that Thomas, who
corresponds to me in Muscat, has been sacked. Instead of attending to work in Muscat he has spent most of
his time on sort of exploring expeditions and spent the Muscat revenues on this as well as money provided by
learned societies. He has constantly been getting his name in the papers lately. I have met him and did not