10 May 1929

[By George Horsfield] 
​
Transported the party to El Barid for third and final visit.  Spent 2 ½ hours examining site – especially the double Ba’al at W. end. This is carved from the rock in a continuation of the Sik to the West and is reached by a flight of steps about 30! Siks seem to be the product of a fissure in the [blank] sandstone  which is then filled in with a perpendicular stratification which is softer and more friable – the sides have a crystalline coating of a slight thickness – one or two cents.  This stratification being weaker and character wears away, hence these splits in the rocks.  The El Barid is incomplete and man has manufactured an image of God out of it. The same stratification are frequently used for carving stairs out of at Petra.  The image is about 6 metres high, separated on both sides from the walls - which on S side is a narrow passage – on the other narrower by which you may climb on top.  The front shows a Dushara and on left Allah in the usual manner.  The [sic] look roughly square from the ground and  [blank] worn.  The cutting between A & D is continued all the length of the rock which is some 8 metres – it is shallow about 15 cents. wide and varies in depth, never more than 30 cents.  It is not straight but curves at W slightly to N.  Its purpose seems to have been to isolate the images so that at the moment the solar Disk sank to this level, they would stand out black and distinct – as indeed they would to-day if a tree did not intervene.  
 
Continued on to the Numara pass passing two obelisks on left – on one pedestal carved in rock. The way was easy to find as it is a continuation of path formerly taken past Hormuz.  The road is pleasant until it falls into the Wadi below phosphoritic ridge – when it becomes very difficult and tortuous.  The road is used by camels for the remains of a lately dead and devoured one were seen by side of road.  This journey took 1 ½ hours – found pools of water after recent rains. 
 
Returned directly to Petra and arrived back at 5.0 pm having been out 11 hours – mostly on horseback. 

Reference: Horsfield G. 1929 (transcribed by A. Thornton). Petra Exploration Fund Diary. "Business Papers to be Kept", Horsfield Collection Box 8, UCL Institute of Archaeology, 10 May: 72-74.