T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 346

To Col.C.E.Wilson 2.8.17 Dear Colonel Wilson, I should have answered your very kind note before, but I was busy about sirdars and things when the Southward ships were building. The Hedjaz show is a quaint one, the size of which has only used on us, as before, and no one now of it can appreciate how difficult it is to organize. However it has gone forward, and history will call it successful: but I hope that the difficulties it has had to com- ...nd with will be equally clear. All my energies of it are taken largely due to you, of course, for on the lad things against put us so), and it will. I can get my book on it out, I'll try to make other people see it. They do not seem always to ap- preciate that while we now about the Railway and cliffs smash- ing things up, and enjoying ourselves, someone else had to sit up days in rides segging the kede of the affair on the rails. You wid be glad to hear sometimes how Feisal and the rest speak of you. However,here is a request. The Sheria never approved of Jaafar's doing & has never been propitiate to it. Jaafar has done very god work, and has pulled the Officers more or less together, & has himself recognised as one head of them. This is going to range the discipline & spirit of the whole force like magic, if A a can get a few more obidgents. He's just gone to Teyik the hills – you think you could get a letter from the Sheriff to him, thank- ing him for his efforts, and saying something nice about their mutual hopes for the future? Jaafar is a little down in the mouth, & this letter would gain him confidence. I fancy it may not be as easy as it sounds to get the right let- ter from the Sheriff – but if you could get a straight record: or a tactful friend it might be done. A direct request would look a little odd. I hope to go off towards Mudowwara in three days' time: have been held up for marex money. Yours sincerely T E Lawrence