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Vol.08.p.030

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Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 30

September 25, 1914

Hearing from Said Ahmed that Abul Hasan el Bedani, the reis of the German guards, had been for two months without money and that the guards were about to desert their posts, I ordered Said to write Abul Hasan and inquire as to the fact, offering also to help him.

September 27, 1914

Abul Hasan arrived. He had received Said's letter at the railroad station where he had gone with two of the guards who refused to hold cut longer. These he sent back to their duty and came himself.

September 28, 1914

Abul Hasan presented a list of wages due which I paid with one hundred (100) piasters for miscellaneous expenses.

October 5, 1914

Mr. Arnold brought out a telegram to himself asking him to pay German guards, etc. and referring him to Mr. Pankus of the German Agency and myself. I told Mr. Arnold I had already attended to the matter. So far as I could judge from this and preceding conversations, he had broached the matter of the German concessions to Mr. Graham and other officials; but apparently in spite of Storr's remark the matter had not been seriously discussed if at all. We both agreed that after this we could only adopt a waiting attitude. Personally, I am convinced that Mr. Arnold's pro-German attitude is causing comment among the English officials and is seriously impairing his ability to be of any assistance to American interests in Egypt. I do not propose to make any further use of his assistance, but to make private and personal inquiries when I wish to know the official attitude in archaeological matters.

October 10, 1914

Mr. Dunham received a cable from his father asking him to return.
Received Abul Hasan's account of wages paid, etc. and sent it to Mr. Arnold.

microfilm: end page 30

Details

  • Classification
    Documentation-Expedition diary pages
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Display Page Dates
    09/25/1914; 09/27/1914; 09/28/1914; 10/05/1914; 10/10/1914
  • Mentioned on page
    Abul Hasan el-Bedani
    Dows Dunham, American, 1890–1984
    Mr. Arnold
    Mr. Pankus
    Ronald Storrs
    Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)
    Sir Ronald Graham
  • Author
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942

People 8

Modern People

  • Abul Hasan el-Bedani

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks German reis

  • Dows Dunham

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1890–1984
    • Remarks Egyptologist; Curator; Assistant Curator, Egyptian Department, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • George Andrew Reisner

    • Type Author
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1867–1942
    • Remarks Egyptologist, archaeologist; Referred to as "the doctor" and "mudir" (Arabic for "director") in the excavation records. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Mr. Arnold

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks American Diplomatic Agent in Egypt

  • Mr. Pankus

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks German Agency

  • Ronald Storrs

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Oriental Secretary; First Dragoman British Agency

  • Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Head Reis for the Harvard-MFA expedition, 1908–1926. In his "A History of the Giza Necropolis I," George A Reisner described Said Ahmed Said as "the most gifted foreman who ever worked for the expedition." Father of Mohammed Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Head Reis 1936–1939), Mahmud Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Translator), Ahmed Said Ahmed [Diraz]. Family name, Diraz, was supplied by Said Ahmed Said's grandsons in 2006.

  • Sir Ronald Graham

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Advisor to the Ministry of Finance