Monday May 1. [1 May 1911] 5.45 Temp 47, Bar 26.9. Off at 6 and
rode down to Kerjeli and over the flat top of the Kira Dagh. When we
got to its edge we looked down upon a beautiful rolling landscape,
the land green with corn, the Batman Su [Batman] wandering through
its midst and shining snow peaks to the N. We dropped down onto
Haznamin at 7.50 and then wandered about a good deal and got to
Bolind[?] at 9.5, the caravan, having come straight being only a few
minutes behind us. The road went up and down a good deal and
finally took a dip onto Merganjal (9.45) We crossed the chai at 11.15
and dipped down again to Tanik at 11.30. The road runs over the
high ground to the R by Selibeh which I saw to the R. but we rode over
a marshy marj by the river and then on the river bank and got to the
bridge at 12.45. A very fine plan with a chamber in each of the big
piers and storks nesting on the arch over the other side of the dip of it.
It was very hot. I lunched and waited till 2 when the caravan came up.
We rode up and down over the foothills. Low rocky hills to the R. At
3.35 we reached Babina and at 5.30 Farkin [Silvan] lying out among
the cornfields under the rocky hills with fresh green poplars lifting
themselves towards its ruined battlements. The splendid broken
towers gave me some idea of what must lie within. The caravan
arrived at 6.10 and we pitched camp on rising ground outside the
walls to the E, above cornfields. Very lovely