Wed Feb 1. [1 February 1905] Very cold and rainy. Went to the
Haram where I photographed the capitals of the Byzantine columns in
the Aksa which are very beautiful. Then to the Turkish school where
the govt. museum is. I called yesterday on Prof. Dalmann of the
Deutsches Arch‰ologisches Institut and saw his little collection - and
his Turkey which is the friend of man. Dropped in to Domian's and
found my cook, Mikha'el es Salaa who seems a promising man. He
said he had travelled with Lord Sykes so I went straight off to Mark
Sykes to ask him. Found them lunching and lunched with them. He
says Mikha'il is a very trustworthy brave man but a bad cook. On this I
decided to take him. Went down to Domian's where I settled with
Micha'el for £10 a month and £12[?] if I keep him less than 3 months.
Bought a 10 roped tent for 160 frcs and threw my tente d'abri in for a
reduction of 20 frcs. Walked up with Mikha'el to the hotel where he
looked through my things and settled everything in 1/2 an hour. In the
morning I had called on Jerassimo and got a cheque for £50 cashed.
Called on Mrs Dickson where I found the Sykes and they came back
with me. Mme Yacowlew [i.e. Yacovlew] called. It is rather tiresome
that the govt are sending down masses of redifs to 'Amman and
thence by rail to Ma'an. No one knows whether to Yemen or to help
Ibn Rashid but at any rate the country is full of soldiers and the English
are looked on with a very unfavourable eye. I hope by going as far
north as Salt to avoid them. Mr Dunn dined and we talked all the
evening. Mrs Bent seems to be making mischief.