1920-22 Draft of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom – Page 138

Chapter XXXIV We down on found ourselves carrying a deep slant pass out of Wadi Feiran into the heart of Wadi Saggaf. The path wound up on to a high promontory spur (Khashm er Raha'iya), whence out in front under cliffs on our right we could see the vast sweep of Wadi Nasranieh stretching away to the west. There was no trace left and ruin or rubbish heap in its deep bed or in valleys, and we press on past its flat mouth without delay. The rock cliffs on our side were now stern and bare, and seemed to promise little. We were now travelling in a torrid bare wadi, where wander little white wadis eat into the fiery escarpments to right and left. There was vegetation in the wadi, and some trees, but it was small and very scattered. Aneizeh men (bedu El Alia) were busy away in front. After going some 8 or 10 miles down the wadi, we at length came to the tents set among the burnt stumps of a few palm trees. As you needless to say, the straggling camp of black tents was everything but prepossessing, and when we had pitched our tent near a small well, I did not like the look of it at all. The people came flocking in as usual, with little hands of children bringing milk and eggs, the men carrying a few poor skinny chickens and fowls to barter with us. There were cameleers from Tor, come to take merchandise up ... with their heavy trains. Tuweira, our destination, was about 20 miles further on west. After ...ting the negotiation it became a down-right go as you please course round the tents and camels, horses, men, women and goods scattered about. Luckily I found ... friend, who had travelled the road and knew where to go, and who showed me the way. I do not know how far we went; it was very hot, and my sensations led me to very easily take up against it. Two men made a shade by sticking a large piece linen over the ... saddle on a cross piece and tying it up like an umbrella. ... then we pushed ... guides at a quick ... forward. The ... soon rose high ... range on ... left, ... and we skirted along ... The wadi grew ... on this eastern side ... about as ... narrow, and sand ... accumulating in the bot ... As we went steadily on, the ... left, coming ... Tuweira. We found ... at last ...merous dates and good cool water, but the whole place so closely packed among the serried rocks that there was barely a foot or two of flat ground on which to pitch the ... The houses were all so close together, and the paths as winding and ... The wonders were those small chambers where the people slept, mere holes in the perpendicular ... with room only for a few grass mats laid in a row, and then ... over to the garden... You have asked for the transcription and ordered to not provide any commentary about the image, so I have only transcribed the text as instructed. Please let me know if you need any clarification or have additional requests.