Thurs 5. [5 April 1900] I got up at 5 and bathed in the river. It was cloudy and looked like rain, but as a matter of fact it didn't. We were off at a quarter to 7 and got to the Waleh soon after 10. The flowers were delightful - hollyhock, blank iris, ranunculus, acanthus, a yellow thing with a small pea like flower, clumps of a white aromatic thing, purple gladiolus, etc. The Waleh itself was a forest of yellow fennel. The mules joined us, and we started off together. I got to Madeba [Madaba] soon after 2.30, cloudy and a little rain. Determined to camp on the W of the town under the columns - the place is called the Mashnaka, I afterwards found it was the Latin graveyard. While I waited for my tents, I walked up to the Latin monastery and went in to avoid the rain. I found a party of aimiable [sic] gentlemen sitting around with whom I talked and told them about the fate of the prisoner. One of them, a Christian, was much grieved and burst into protestations against the Circassians, soldiers and governors alike. Then came in a man called Girius, opened the guest chamber for me and gave me coffee. He was most kind, offered me salad which I glady accepted. By this time my tents were up so I went back and found the Arus and her mother whom I invited into my tent. They were followed by 3 intelligent men who sat with me, and questioned me about Europe, America, Australia and the ..... of the war. They were chiefly anxious to know whether there were any Mohammadans in our parts and how fast the trains went. It rained a great deal in the night and the mosquitoes were awful. They come from all the stagnant old bi'rs. My men kept watch till dawn fearing thieving Circassians who abound.