BSY_FB_28-032

February Wednesday 1 1905

Camp on Wadi 'Âḳib 3 hours S. of Umm & near S.E. base
of Tell il Ḳaḥât, & by a large butm tree. Below this point Wadi is called Dhelêl.
7:00 A.M. Temp 39 ° Baro. L 27.52 Baro. S. 27.40 #1 N.E. Breeze
nimbus & stratus all. 4 Beduin horsemen rode into camp at 7:30. They
were of the Benī Haṣan tribe, that control this country. They
dismounted in a business like way, walked to the fire, asked who was
in charge, were referred to the dragoman, asked him wehe? we were
going & what we were doing, asked him if we would mind breaking bread
with them in token of friendship, said they were looking trying to
round up some stray camel, slung themselves gracefully on their horses,
said "go-bye" and cantered out of sight over a little roll of ground in
the desert. One of them was a shëkh.

We left camp. 7:55 A.M. leaving 3 muleteers to guard with a Winchester
& 2 six shooters. We went S. over a nearly flat country covered for the
first 2 miles with black Basalt volcanic scoria, and then with a fine
yellow clay with scanty grass and bunches of Ḥamḍ looking much like a
meadow. We came in one hour to a ridge of hills rising approx 200 ft.
above the plain and extending to the W.S.W. and of lime-stone covered
with particles of flint & agate (see specimens) called the "Zumal" or "sandy
rolling country". On the summit of a hill some 100 ft. high at the E. end
of the ridge we came to a ruined castle Ḥammâm iṣ - Ṣarukh?. It was
very cold and raw, and we had quite a snow squall, the snow turning to
light rain with variable wind settling to N. in afternoon. The situation
commands a fine view to the S., E., & N. but higher hills of lime stone
to the W. & S.W. cut off an extensive view in that direction. As far as
the eye can see there is not a sign of life - no flocks, no Beduins, no water,