Mon Ap 2 [2 April 1900] We left soon before 7 for a very hot day.
Rode down the valley and out onto the great plains. There was a hot
mist hanging over them and a very strong hot wind blowing. The
milestones were the only amusement, many of them were standing.
We then went up and down till we came onto a wide plateau after
crossing which we entered a valley which gradually led us down the
last slopes to the Ahsa [Hasa, Wadi el]. We crossed it about an hour
further up than our former place. The white tamarisk was all out and a
lovely willow. It was awfully hot. It was then near 12 and we lunched.
The mules did not come up for another hour nearly and were much
exhausted by the heat. We went on up another 3/4 of an hour through
meadows full of corn and flowers to the Ain el Aineh ['Aina] where
there is a well and a little village. Here the Hs went on and I camped.
It was awfully hot and fly-y but about 4 it got better and I had tea and
tried in vain to photograph an immense flock of storks which were
eating the locusts. At dusk I watched my men make bread under a
tiny moon.