BSY_FB_28-151

was evident that the man was a thief - either sent as a spy to find out our
strength, or taken by surprise on his way to his hidden booty - in either
case he signalled something to his confederates.

Left Umm is-Surab 2:15 P.M. going East, arrived at a branch of
*Wadi Butm 2:27 and following it all the way up, crossed Roman road
2:53. Informed that it went from a tower 25 min. N 20° W of is-Summākiyât
to il-Feden S.W. Crossed another Roman Road 3:09. Was informed that
it came from kalát Zerka & met the other road at the tower above
mentioned, & from there on was a road to Bosra. Arrived is-Summākiyât
3.25 Roads. G.S. & fairly level - gradual ascent - 75 ft. to mile.
Guide mounted, pace 3 miles per hours:
*See note Jan. 15th

Jan 15th '05. B. walked in morning 10 mins. E. to Kôm is-Summākiyât
on S. side of wadi, a good sized town completely ruined with two churches
& two birkets.

Jan. 26th chorus from townhouses: It seems like the sweetest music I had
ever heard, although only from a music box, in the dining tent. It had only
played two or three bars when a wolf nearby waited & howled as if in
sympathy with the spirit of the scene.

Feb. 1st '05. little grass- only bunches of those bushes of the desert.
We left Hammân is-Sarakh at 1.25 P.M. going W. over what appeared
to be the lowest land for miles. It was perfectly flat nearly free of stones
quite liberally covered with turf with bunches of ___ growing in it.