Page 825 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

Court in morning. Golf in afternoon. Played very badly.

Monday 16th [October]

Fort. Court, case of estate of Abdel Rahman. Then went to Agency to hear the pearl case. Khalil Bakr's
witnesses are obviously mostly lying, one admitted that he was paid to give evidence. Golf tournament in
afternoon. Played badly.

Tuesday 17th October

Fort - Police station & customs. Called on Pack & showed him the article in the Sphere which he resented
almost as much as I did, he gave me some notes about the rot which the man wrote about pearls. Motored
along the Rafaa road which is wonderfully good now, they have widened it and put down oil on part of it. I
finished my letter to the Editor of the Sphere also the article which I am asking them to publish, and a letter
to the Agency complaining about the article. A party at the Agency in the evening, dancing & games. We left
at what we considered a reasonable hour but the Gastrells seemed annoyed at our going so soon. They have
a mania for parties and they dont do them very well. They entertain even more than Prior, but less
amusingly.

Wednesday 18th October

Busy morning in office, got my stuff sent off to the Sphere by the air mail. Usual party in the afternoon,
tennis & Bridge.

Thursday [19th October]

Pack left by the air mail, I always miss him, he is good company & so keen on Bridge. One of the air lines
stuck on the aerodrome, but not for long, there was a very high tide and she landed too near the shore
where the ground is soft. Fort in the morning, customs, Sh Sulman called in the morning & as usual talked
about the matter of the slaughter house fees. He is very persistent. Went over to the Agency to hear the last
of the cultural pearl case, Haj Sulman made a very good closing speech, mostly composed by me but Khalil
Bakr made a rotten speech with no argument. I think we have proved our case. It has really been most
interesting & I have enjoyed dealing with it as prosecution. Motored in the evening.