Fri Ap 21. [21 April 1911] Temp 41 Bar 26.4 at 6.30. The caravan got
off about 6.45 and I at 7.30 after photographing Mr Andrus's bronze
god (Hittite? he has a pointed cap and torus on it.) He is 4 in high and
1 in between the hands and was found above Kullith where (to the N)
there is a ruined site on a hill, huge stones and the living[?] rock
making a fortification wall without mortar. We left Mardin gate at 8 - the
caravan therefore about 7.30 and rode round the N side of the
opposite hill, all terraced for vine and corn with the Summer houses of
the notables of Mardin standing in gardens. Thorns in flower,
almonds and apricots flowering. Fig, olive and pomegranate have
been killed by the snow. Crossed the valley and came to Benabil at
9.45. Climbed up a very steep hill by a bad rocky path. At the top on
a high rock ruins of a castle, K. Na'man Beg. We reached it at {6.45}
10.25. Only a few broken walls built of big stones are left. Then we
dropped down to Tkhum, 11.5. Climbed up a long valley and crossed
the ridge at the top (oak scrub) Below us a valley which we crossed,
leaving the small village of Reske Arabu a little to the Right (not
marked in map) at 12.30. We passed mar Kuti (to L. of us) at 1.15 and
Khansora at 2.25 (also to the L of us) Mamatti at 2.45 to R, Khawarikh
to R and dropped down into at [sic] valley to the village of Yezdi at
3.30. Here we camped. Rain and then after an hour or two fine again.