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27 November 1908 — San Antonio Palace, Malta | |
Friday. 27th [November 1908]. Twenty two Musulmen were buried yesterday at the mosque at the expense of the Duke of Connaught. Four Europeans will be buried today. These are terrible details of the catastrophy—the ship is still burning. Went to Valletta this morning with the Dss & there met Col. Biancardi & went antiquity shopping with him. Only found one interesting thing to buy an old silver sugarbasin & cover with the arms of the Gd Master Pinto on it also a book with the printed portraits of the Gd Masters which the Duchess wants to buy. It was a lovely fresh day—no wind but hot sun—quite perfect—but said to be cold for here. We returned home to lunch & I did not go out again—the rest went to play golf. The Connaughts gave a dinner party of 24 in honour of the new Adl Sir Ashton Curzon Howe. Col. Pantin took me to dinner. On my left I had Capt. Kennedy—both were pleasant. Among the Guests was a Capt. Pakenham who on being introduced to me said “We last met at Mandalay.” I had not recollection of him. I was told afterwards that he had seen the whole of the naval fight in the late Japanese war having been naval attaché with the Japanese fleet & was the only man present who had been in action. He had won the admiration & respect of the Japanese by the cool way in wh he looked on—smoking his cigarette quietly during the most exciting moments. I sat talking to the Admiral a long time after dinner. He told me that he was tied down here awaiting events in the East. He regretted he could not send me to Italy in one of his ships which are few & not very efficient. Music was going on in the anteroom all the evening to make a background to conversation. All were gone away by 11 o’cl . | |
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