Fri. May 26. [26 May 1911] The train left at 6. All my muleteers, all
Fattuh's family, Mr Shellam and Mme Koch came to see me off. Very
crowded train. In my carriage were young 'Ayar and his sister, a big
and rich Xian family of Aleppo [Halab]. At Rayyak [Rayak] I got into a
carriage with Hassan Beiham and his women. He is one of the
leading Moslem families in Beyrout [Beyrouth (Beirut)] and we made
great friends. Grey and rain all day, rain when we arrived at 11.30.
Had letters at the station from Mr Cumberbatch and Mr Eady
(enclosing my ticket) and the hotel keeper of the German hotel came
to meet me and took me to the hotel.