Tues. Oct 7 [7 October 1919] Motored down to Lidd [Lod (Lydda)],
leaving at 5.25 - I ought to have left at 5 but I had to wake the chauffeur
who was sound asleep and bustle him into the car. The sun was just
rising over the mountains of Moab. Most delicious drive down the
rocky valleys. Caught the morning train and got to Haifa about 11.30.
Here Mrs Walters Taylor [i.e. Waters Taylor] kindly met me - she was
born Long and claimed acquaintance. She had kept two seats for me
in the very crowded Damascus [Dimashq (Esh Sham, Damas)] train.
My companions were two officers taking a company up to 'Ain Sofar
whither their battalion has been moved from Egypt. Wonderful
journey up the Yarmuk valley. Reached Dara'ah [Dar'a] at 5.30 and
found there a most welcome dinner. After which I fell asleep till we got
near Damascus which we reached somewhere past 11. No one to
meet me but I found a former Qawass, Hasan, now with Major Clayton
who told me the latter was away. He took me to the house of Major
Wadman who came out to see me. They had had no telegram from
Jerusalem [(El Quds esh Sherif, Yerushalayim)] to announce my
arrival - bad staff work. Went to the Damascus Palace Hotel.