T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 420

To Hoggarth Aleipol Dec. 17. (1:12) Dear Mr. Hoggarth, I got here today, and found Wilkie Young going off: Mr. Fontana .... yesterday. It seems Wilkie Young went over to "eratius some time back, found a dozen German engineers sounding for rock- bottom, etc. and was told by some that they were going through the big mound. He explained that it was Lhuitian property and gave ... ... to understand we owned the whole place. This was to leave a "no chance of buying it: very a prying of him I think. Fontana: one of his se engineers told me that the plans are being changed for the ... time. They now propose a temporary bridge to the W. of the site, for materials etc. and the permanent one to the South: in a modified position - it being absolutely impos- sible ... taken off either end and another bridge in the spring large store-sites, repairing shops, and living houses. There is no siding, however, to take up most of the site. The building of the bridges and works generally will be (under .... begun as soon as the final items are published: in any ... the spring. This looks like firm wages and a shortage of men: while a party of surveyors is still there, and has been since August, so that ... hopes of my "... ing up ..s our leavings of autumn lies will prove all. Everywhere else they have bought things most ... ice up to now: here also, till I will go across in the hope of meeting what they have. Again, I can't say, but Hassana-... will want to sell overmuch, or ... it, tho' ... railway (given he will have sole already: Wilkie Young's ... will barely last indefinitely: In any case I can't suppose the P.W. wants to buy a parcel of railway pickings. As for the building of the house, that should be un-noticed, if ... ... are going to put up such plant for the bridge and railway spoils as we ... located ....... Hassana's can't possibly ob- ject to one more in a row of a ... engineers! ... only it will be a much more extensive building than I was told. You'll ... a reinforcing gear, and possibly labour also. However I hope to be back in a week. The Dyen I will hardly see, I will not do any wandering about the 10 mile-... property. I am not yet fit, not so fit as I thought. Last, for I elected Mr. ... ... the Dyen-Resident... they are both quite ordinary, and rather dear, buy Hildie, and it seems a pity to pass them over. With this we have working really seriously, the country will soon be opened up. One is a robin, with the usual four-legged, and one- horned ibex, but under its nose is a bird, which in some rather supports your idea that the fill-up ornament was a decomposing