TCD MS 10516 folio 44 recto
[14th September 1916] bellum in a leaky condition but bailing soon overcame the water so I did not anticipate any trouble from this cause. I imagine every Arab bellum that was ever built leaks from the day of its birth to the day of its death.
Friday: September 15th 1916: Hamar Lake
Wished to leave at the first streak of dawn in the hope of crossing the lake and reaching Chaibaish by evening. Difficulties occurred at the outset; the leaky bellum of yesterday was unserviceable; she had 1½ feet of water in the hold and it poured in as fast as we pitched it out. I had to condemn the bellum and make a new distribution of sick over the seven remaining boats. This took time; bellum No. 38 was condemned, handed over to the embarkation staff at Hak-