Ap. 14. [14 April 1914] It wasn't nice - I knew it would not be nice. I
tossed and turned on the hard ground and was ashamed of finding it
so hard! In the middle of the night rose a three quarter moon and
shone into my open tent, monstrous, deformed and red on the misty
horizon. After that I went to sleep till 4 when I got up and mounted my
camel. 'Ali did not return - or he returned only after we left. I have no
remorse about him, for the moment he left tongues were unloosed
and I heard tales - some of them I knew or guessed and some I did
not know. I must tell you the root of the battle in Baghdad was that he
wanted me to take with me the son of his uncle who wished to leave
hastily in order to avoid his military service. I said No - that was
against the law of the Ottoman Govt, and I was their guest. The son of
his uncle must do his service. Thereat he was furious, and guess
what he did? He mounted the boy on one of my camels and brought
him to Feluja [Fallujah, Al], telling him to come and salute me next
morning as an indifferent person who wished to go to Damascus
[Dimashq (Esh Shams, Damas)], in the hope that I would let him come
with me. How he imagined that I would not see through the plot I do
not know, but when I heard of it I was very angry at this gross
insubordination and glad to think that 'Ali and the son of his uncle are
now making the best of their way back to Baghdad. The right is with
me, as we say; don't you think so? So we rode gaily along Euphrates
bank. It was agreeable; I love the Euphrates above all other rivers,
for some unknown reason - perhaps because of its splendid name.
Anyhow I love it. It is not really hot yet; the shade temperature in the
afternoon is a little over 80? and it will be cooler when we get up into
the high Syrian Desert a few days from now. The camels went
splendidly; we did an 11 hours' march in 81/2 hours. You who are a
camel-man know what a satisfaction that is. Tomorrow's march is
longer - good, please God! There lives at Ramadi [Ramadi, Ar] the
cheif [sic] shaikh of all the Dulaim and I went straight to him. He
lodged me in a palm garden, gave me coffee, and tea with orange
flowers in it, and appointed a rafiq who is to convey me to Ga'rah
where I shall fall in with the 'Anazeh. To them he is to entrust me. His
name is 'Adwan; he has a very pleasant, smiling face, is a well known
man, and coming from the house of 'Ali Sulaiman commands respect.
So I am over the first fence. At Ga'rah - tawakkil Allah! I shall get a
man there I make no doubt and 'Adwan is bound over to find me his
successor. So here I am sitting with shaikhs again and it is all very
familiar and pleasant.