TCD MS 10515 folio 33r
[April 4th 1916] of the tents were the more nomadic members of the Arab community who had come from further afield to gather about the village. After passing the encampment, I had to cross a shallow lake. My pony, while trying to climb up the steep bank of the lake, sank so deep in the soft mud that both of us came down in the water. A friendly Arab assisted me to wash the horse and scrub the mud from the harness; nor did he forget the eternal claim for “back sheesh” at the termination of his little assistance. Close to the embankment was a ruined building, or rather what appeared to be a small brick and stone house in the commencement of its construction, but which was later abandoned. As lines of trenches extended both in front and rear of the building, I