Tues May 2. [2 May 1911] 6 AM Temp 56 Bar 27.15. An amazing day
First the outside of the domed church struck me by surprise, which
reached bewilderment when I came to the splendid mosque, and
culminated in the basilica. I set to work on that first; then to the
mosque which they are, under the direction of Sayyid Yusef, busy
repairing. I arrived at a fortunate moment for it was cleared out and
not yet restored. So I worked at it till 1. After lunch worked at the
domed church - it belongs to the Jacobites and they want to repair it.
Then walked round the walls photographing inscriptions and had
coffee with a friendly Agha who had pitched a tent on one of the ruined
towers. The houses open out onto the top of the walls as onto a sort
of gallery and below all is garden and running water, very lovely. The
Chaldaean priest came to call.