Thurs. Ap 1. [1 April 1909] Off at 6.45. We rode out 2 hours to the E
through Abu'l Gasim across cultivation and irrigation streams.
Reached the Hille [Hillah, Al] road outside the cultivation at 9 and the
Nasriyyeh canal at 10. At 11.15 we got to the Mahawil [Khan al
Mahawil] and lunched under some palm trees till 11.45. Rode on
caught up the mules, crossed numerous dry canals and one or two
with water and sighted the first great mound of Babylon, Babil. I rode
on to the top of a canal bank to look at it. Fattuh put up a jackal here.
We rode on another half hour, crossed a little canal and up into the
mounds of Babylon. Found the Expeditions hause among palms by
the river. Koldewey ill; Buddensieg and Wetzel received me most
kindly. After drinking sherbet I went out with Buddensieg and saw the
diggings among the poor houses of the town. Then home to tea and
a bath and dinner.