Wed 10. [10 May 1905] Drove in the morning with Fattuh to Miram
where I mapped a very interesting church. The village is charming at
the entrance of a gorge, all gardens and water. After lunch went to the
Ottoman bank to cash a cheque. Found there M. Savoie son the the
ex French consul in Damascus [Dimashq (Esh Sham, Damas)] a
pleasant man. In came the manager whose name is something like
Trab or Trat, a Syrian from Beirut [Beyrouth]. Presently we sent for the
Arab merchant from Busrah 'Abdullah esh Shweire who with his 2
brothers has recently been exiled here. He was at first afraid to talk
then told us how they had gone to the Kahweh one evening and the
police had come and told them they must journey to Stambul next
morning. He hastily placed a wakil[?] over his affairs and went off
leaving his wife and 5 small children. They had to make the journgy
at their own expense. They were kept a fortnight at Stambul saw no
one were asked no questions and were sent here when they arrived
almost penniless. We devised means for getting money from Busrah.
He said he had no idea why he had been sent off - had no dealings
with the Arabs. Perhaps a jealous merchant had accused him. After
he left Husne Bey came in and I presently went to the Loytveds where
I found Fraulein Gerber, a Swiss missionary lady. All the others
presently arrived and we walked to the station. The Loytveds dined
at the hotel and we had a long discussion about progress afterwards.
Late to bed and I did not sleep owing to the barking of the dogs.