Sat 25. [25 February 1905] Today the running stream outside my tent
was frozen and there was a mighty cold east wind. My cold much
better. I rode to Hayat - there was nothing at Bathanyeh but some
good houses built round courts - and saw a very fine kalybe[?] and
one of the best houses in the Jebel [Duruz, Jabal ad], built round a
court, the bottom story [sic] groined stables, the top living rooms
opening onto a stone gallery. It belongs to the Sheikh. There is also
a castle. We got down to the Lejah [Al Laja] at Lahiteh and saw the
lunching tents of the Spanish party there - those who were stopped 10
days at Tiberius by the mud. Just before Brak [Buraq] we met 9
Druzes coming in who saluted me in a most friendly way. I sent my
salute to the mountains. One addressed me in American - he had
been there a year and back 7 years. He said it was a fine country.
Yesterday at Tarba I met again the American speaking Druze whom I
had seen at [space left blank] on the way to Umm Raweik. He was
delighted to see me and set me on my way. I camped in the village
but found no water as they have not had rain this year or last. We had
to send the beasts 1/2 an hour to drink. Brak is inhabited by
Cicassians [sic]. Then came a Turk to my tent who is a stone cutter
and saw me in the house of Nasib el Atrash. He was a charming
person and was much interested to hear we had got into the Safah
[Safa]. His name was Hassan Agha.