BSY_FB_28-013

January 13, 1905

il-Umtā'îyeh 7:45 A.M. Temp. 42° Baro. S. 27.37 " L. 27.64
#1 Breeze S.E. stratus clouds & cirrus over sky but clear to N.
Breeze & clouds increasing - Rain began 12:30 drizzle until 9:00 P.M.
Breeze S.S.E. #3 to #5.

Left il-Umtā'îyeh 8:43 A.M. going S by E over rolling country crossing
Wadi Butm 9:31. Arrived Umm is-Surab 9:54, An uninhibited ruined
town with 5 different clusters of ruins seperated from each other in
different directions, by distances varying from 100 to 400 ft. & with 2 other
isolated ruins.

While exploring one of the clusters alone, I saw an Arab walking toward
one of the other clusters, & so called to my servant to run and intercept him
for the purpose of asking him some questions about local geographical names.
When the servant was within some 70 ft. of him, the Arab stopped very
much frightened and commanded Peter to keep his distance. Peter much
amused that the man should be frightened at him, laughed aloud and
made toward him at which the man ran a little way with Peter chasing
him, by he was too fleet footed to be caught, and so Peter stopped
and tried to coax him as if he were a horse, advancing toward
him slowly one step at a time, and saying that we were friends.
Then the Arab drew a revolver, holding Peter at his distance &
threatening to shoot if he came any nearer. A Moslem guide
whom we had taken with us from Bosra, then appeared upon the
scene, and the Arab seeing him asked that the Haurânī as they
call the people of the Haurân plain that live in villages, come near
and he would speak to him. Pointing his revolver at the two men
he kept them at a distance of about 50 ft. both men convulsed with