Mon. 14. [14 May 1900] Went early to the German Consulate and got money and talked to L¸tticke and looked at maps. Shopped and back to lunch; on my way met an English kavass with a note from Mrs R. [Richards] saying I could not have zaptiehs for tomorrow. At lunch was a very interesting young Metawili, Hussein el Haidar was I think his name, from Baalbek and a German, Burghardt, much travelled. Druze talk. H el H was the most Druze person I have yet met. It seems they have refused all Turkish offers unless Shibly and the others are released and are returning into the Lejah [Al Laja]. L. says there will be war in the autumn. He told me the tale of Shibly's imprisonment and of Yayha's[?], who was simply serving as a Turkish officer in Damascus [Dimashq (Esh Sham, Damas)], was seized and imprisoned for life, penal servitude. Rushed off to the E. Consulate to see Mrs R. before she went out and so home to letter writing. The Lüttickes came to pay me a farewell visit and while they were there my chief zaptieh 'Ali Shawwish arrived. Wrote letters packed and tried a horse.