Sat 18. [18 February 1905] Bitter cold and a little snow. We therefore
determined to finish our purchasing for the journey today and to leave
tomorrow. I went up to see the Mudir el Mal in the morning, Milhem
Kian, a Xian from Damascus [Dimashq (Esh Sham, Damas)] and a
most charming, intelligent man. He came down later to see me. I
spent the morning reading Mutannabbi. Rode for a couple of hours
after lunch, bitter cold and windy, nothing but big stones and mud. All
the white crocuses shut up. After tea went up to see Milhem and found
Nasib there, just come back. Milhem knows Dussaud well and
travelled with him. An old Kurdish Agha arrived and I presently left. I
hear Mark Sykes is at Sweida [As Suwayda']. The Sherarat are gom
to the Druzes and they say the Da'ja too.