ng captured and burnt to the ground._

THE JOURNEY TO HOMS.

The 14th Brigade, following the 13th Brigade one day's march behind, moved
up to Baalbek on October 13th. Here we ascertained that the leading brigade
had had a similar reception to ours from the natives at Rayak. Passing
through the town and the ruins of the celebrated Roman Temple of the
Sun[38] on the left, we camped east of the Turkish barracks.

North of Baalbek our maps were found to be very inaccurate and unreliable,
the actual position of places often proving to be many miles away from
where shown; frequently roads followed quite a different route! In one
place a railway line was omitted altogether from the map, while in another,
a river marked thereon did not exist!

Rations, now being brought up by motor lorries nearly every day, were
issued to units as soon as they had camped for the night; mutton was the
principal meat ration, sheep being requisitioned locally, all along the
route, as also was forage.

The transport was now able to follow close behind the Brigade, and usually
arrived in "camp" shortly after the fighting troops. The "trek" now became
a matter of routine, marching usually starting each day at 07.00.
Permission was given for the Squadron to carry some of its guns on its
transport, in order to relieve the pack-animals.

October 14th--To Lebwe; watering from a stream on the way, and camping in
groves.

October 15th--To El Kaa. The Squadron camped against a fig-grove and figs
were purchased for everyone.

October 16th--To Kusseir. Camp on plain east of station.

October 17th--To Homs. When about half way, in front could be seen what
appeared to be a large camp of bell tents, but on getting nearer they
turned out to be merely a village of mud huts of that shape, and
whitewashed!

Afterwards many similar villages were met with, some of which were
whitewashed, some not. From hereabouts could be seen, away on the left, the
large Homs Lake, through which runs the River Orontes (Nahr el Asi). Two
miles south of the town of Homs an hour's halt was made to allow of
watering and feeding, then passing a ruined castle on an artificial mound,
we went through the centre of the town (which is an interesting old place,
and apparently well supplied with water),[39] to the main road out to the
north. Then, along a track to the north-west, we passed the 13th Brigade
camp (the 13th Brigade had been a day ahead from Tel esh Sherif), and
bivoua