Wed March 18. [18 March 1914] Took affectionate leave of Jadu to whom we gave boots and 2 mej with which he was well pleased. Sa'aiyid returned to his people with 4 mej and many mutual blessings and I took as rafiq Mazhir. Another Hassani from the ferik behind joined us on the way out. We went by the derb al 'adleh without a word said of Shbilza! 'Ali observed that his dulul was unable to march today and when I asked why, replied that it was because of the thiql of kithib which she carried! It grew heavier as we went, for the tale of our doings, with still more embroideries (photographs of the Amir and his harem and the Jof [Jawf, Al (Al Jauf)] story) were told to the other Hasani. Towards the end of the Batn the ground was sandy and the vegetation that of the Nefud [Nafud, An] - hammat, with pink flowers, alanda, nusi'. Then we crossed a flint strewn ridge at 8.50 and came out onto downs, covered in places with shijar and flowering weeds and grasses. Small red poppies and the little purple horned poppy, stock, daisies etc. At 11 we left to the left a low ridge, the J. Shaikhal, which ran away from us to the SW. Then long stretches of the cup[?] like downs[?]. At 2.30 we came to good 'aishb but rather mistakenly pushed on and fared worse. S. wind and cloud, a heavy scud of rain in the morning. After we came into camp the wind rose and brought the rain with it. Very refreshing. I spent the day in dreams and the evening in anxious thought as to the news which awaits me in Baghdad - good please God. And this rain will probably put an end to our anxieties about water.