Sat May 13 [13 May 1911] Called on Khanza Khatun, a very striking
figure. At 5.30 Temp 60 Bar 27.75. Caravan left at 6.10, we at 7.15 and
caught them up in 2 hrs. It became hot but in the afternoon we had a
little rain. The zaptiehs in rather a state of mind because 10 days ago
there was a Shammar raid from near Nisibin [Nusaybin (Nisibis)]
against the Fedaghi Shammar on the Khabur. 'Atshaneh 8.15 - it
belongs to Khanza. Remains of a great wall built of immense blocks
round the tell. No villages after this. Lunch at Kabr el Abyad 12-12.30.
Tell Kakhurt (called after the plant like coarse tobacco) 1.30.
Between Tell Ja'wani (L) and Tell Zatum (R) 3.15. Behind Tell Zatum
is the big long tell called Kefes or in Arabic Ga'ara. Ras al 'Ain [R'as
al 'Ayn] 4.10, caravan 5. No Oppenheim but Mr Andrus was there.
We had tea with the charming old Beg of the Circassians Hassan
Agha. He had come from Daghestan as a boy of 6 or 7. They were a
year on the way. They rejoiced when they saw this place with its
waters and grass like corn, but soon found out that the unsettled
desert is difficult to live in. At first they settled all down the Khabur; then
drew back to Ras al 'Ain, many of them went away altogether. He has
been back to Daghestan and says the Chechan and the Russians
are like brothers. Mr Andrus fears that if the rly does not come here
they will leave altogether. The Arabs now dare not touch them - they
were friends with Ibrahim Pasha. They complain much of corrupt govt.
They have got an excellent Kaimmakam now at Safh [As Safih] but
he can do nothing on account of the incompetence of his chief, the
Mutesarrif of Deir [Dayr az Zawr] (Ahmad Riza's brother in law)