T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 413

To Hogarth I thought I sent a note to help effect with the seals: but didn't or you misunderstood it. Aleppo. Feb.10 (1912) This is my latest Ident, large as life. I am pleased with her: there is something monumental in their advance: and a distinct expression on their faces. Altho' it is a better size than the usual little Ibex gables: of which I have now two. Your injunction of yesterday (to go & get more) has now produced five: the last lot (by the way) were "presentee": I expect a plaster by return of post,from Leedes: he promised me one when I gave something good. And surely that I "foot" says "good" I thought myself happy while I carried it: and sent a a parcel with it to Beyrout. Petrie says he has another, in the Edwards library: I hope he lies. I have another quaint gable for you: it goes any way up. If you make anything of it I'd be glad to know. It is bigger than this; roughly cut too. Two other two gables are pictures: are you sick of Ibexes, or shall I buy more? You never get an exact duplicate of course: and given four or five more years out here we shall have made a "corner" in gables and may raise the price. Present Aleppo rates rule about a medi- kal each all sorts: that is from dealers of course: in the village a quarter of that would go. I don't believe my cylinder is Hittite now: it changes colour nearly each time I look at it. Shall be glad when you settle its fate. I now know 16 dealers in Aleppo: and Madame Koch. So I have work for some time. I arrived with sixteen piastres from Dam- ascus, and found householding funds not yet arrived. So have borrowed from Mr.Montana, and am sunning myself spending it. If the money from the B.M. is long delayed I'll have an enormous collection of relics and colossal debts: and will sell the first to the highest bidder to pay for the second. Seriously, I hope the money will roll up soon, because it is now Feb.10 and the house will not be built in a fortnight. The claim of the Gov. to buy the site is odd. Halil must be