Mon July 22 [22 July 1907] A refusal came this morning from Aleppo
[Halab] after we had telegraphed to Ferid. But the Vali promised to
visÈ the teskerah to Ismidt [Izmit]. I wired to the Embassy but the thing
was delayed and at night came back to us and had to be sent again.
Captain DW [Doughty Wylie] and I went to the bank and talked out of
window to a Muhayyir who gave us an account of his country east of
the Crimea which was like a great poem in strophes: The grass and
the spring grass grow waist deep; The water flows from the hills and
the horses go down to water; the trees cast deep shadow over our
houses - here there are none.