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1942

in one tomb an almost perfect coffin made of, said to be, wood containing what look like nail holes in the
corners, but no signs of any nails. Two sides & one end practically intact, other end fallen in. It would
appear that coffin was swung in mid air with brackets at each end resting in the grooved portion of the
tomb, sign of this was some rotten remains of wood in the inner nitch, the outer one was covered in falling
sand. Under coffin on side was remains of date palm branch, rather soft. Skeleton lying slightly turned to
one side, no signs of anything buried with it, coffin about 7 feet long slightly narrower than tomb.

On top of tomb three large round stones, made of , smooth on top & rough under, each with circular hole
in centre, just like milling stones over the rough & smooth side. I have never seen this before.

Sunday 31st August

Heavy cold, didnt go down to the office. Holmes came in & stayed some time, very fed up at being sort of
harried about with no work to do, ABJ came in & talked. In the garden p.m. Saw a new informer, seemed
intelligent. Quite a cool day. Metcalfe came in with a letter from a general who passed through with
Wavell asking me to get him a necklace. G.P. came over in the evening.

Monday 1st September

Fort, didnt stay very long. Cool morning. Office. Didnt go to Fort. Saw Steele re the bridge. Some parts

overcarried to Iraq so it may be delayed again. A busy morning, various people came in. Went to see Smith
about passages. Cabled M to meet me Karachi.

Went to see work on surface of causeway where we are putting on an oil surface & then to the tombs on

mound at Suk al Khamis & then to library to change books.

Tuesday 2nd September

Sh Khalifah ill again with throat trouble, a great nuisance.