Sat Ap 29. [29 April 1911] Fine and the river going down. Took some
photographs and then went with the Kasis to some caves to the E, one
of which was a church with lots of crosses on it, in another there were
some curious primitive reliefs on the rock. There is a second wall
beyond the city wall enclosing ground now cultivated and they tell me
that still further east is another ruined wall. Lots of aqueducts worked
in the solid rock. So back above the gardens and worked at the river
side mosque which I planned till 1. After lunch went with the Kasis
through wonderful gorges to the W of the town where above the river
we saw a niche with a Strangeli inscription. A cave opposite it -
possible the dwelling of a monk. We came back through the town,
climbing up a very steep path to a gate on the W side. So down to the
bridge where I found the caravan ferrying. Fattuh and the afsh had
gone over. We tried to drive the horses into the water but they all
returned. So when the kelek arrived we loaded {the donkey} the
pack saddles onto it, gave my mare and another to the Kelekjis to
bring over behind the kelek and drove the rest of the horses into the
water. 8 crossed and 2 returned. These last we took over with us
(they swam by the kelek) when we crossed with the donkey. So
safely across. Husnkeif [Hasnkeyf] looks splendid from this side.
They say the bridge was broken on purpose because the people on
the opposite bank raided over so often. The kasis told me that till 2
years ago the inhabitants of one valley were constantly at war against
those of the next. They used to shoot at the town from the opposite
rocks and the townsmen shot back.