BSY_FB_28-076

March Friday 17 1905

Ḥalbân 7:30 A.M. Temp. 44 Baro. L. 28.075

In Ḥalbân 10 G. Inscr. & 1 G. & Syriac : dates 534 & 543 A.D.
Bilingual Inscr. not dated.

Left camp 9:31 going N. arrived 10:25 iṭ-Ṭûbā, a ruined
village small like the rest uninhabited, but having an encampment
of Beduins - some 20 tents of the tribe il-Bashâkim immediately
to the N. On our way we were in sight of a herd of 7 or 8 gazelles
for some 10 min. at a distance of 1/2 mile. Immediately to the N. -
5 mins. from iṭ-Ṭûbā is the end of a slight rise of ground, beyond
which the country very gradually slopes so that a considerable view
of the country to the N.NE. & N.W is obtained. Searching this country
carefully with telescope and in company of the Beduin Shêkh who
appeared to be an intelligent man revealed no ruins of villages, except
a small Kubab town 1/2 mile to N. The Shêkh informed me that
there were a few modern villages concealed behind small rolls of
ground. The country appears to be under cultivation to some? extent.
Village 1/2 mile to N. is Burdj iṣ-Ṣaḳa. At iṭ-Ṭûbā 4 G. Ins. 572 & 582 AD.

Left. 2:10 going E. arrived Abu il-Ḳudûr, 2:47 same? kind of town with
a knoll to S. with a small covered cistern on top. Took sights
from knoll - Town uninhabited. 1G. Ins 574 AD. 1 Syriac Ins. 551 AD ?

Left 3:29 going S. arrived il-'Anz 3:57 - same? kind of town inhabited
by peasants Moslems. 2 G. Ins. one dated 541 A.D.

Left 4:23 arrived camp 4:55

pace all day approx 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 miles per hour