Monday Feb 27 [27 February 1911] At 5.30 Temp 49? Bar. 29.8. Off at
6.10 and rode till 6.55 across the valley of Roda which is all water after
rain. It is in great part cultivated, the cornfields belonging to the
people of Rahhaliyyeh [Rahhaliyah]. A strong S. wind rising towards
evening. We reached the first of the Rahhaliyyeh swamps at 10 and
stayed till 10.30 watering our horses. We also bought a small wild
duck from a man. We decided to go on to Shithatheh [Shithathah].
Passed by Rahhaliyyeh Serai at 11.55 and bade farewell to our two
soldiers, going on alone. Got to the Mazar of Ahmed ibn Hashem at 1
and to Shethatheh at 4.30, a long pull across windy ugly desert.
Camped opposite the Serai. Temp at 5.30 70? and Bar 29.6. Strong
hot wind. Both the oases all withered, and dingy in the grey wind.