Escorted by the local soldiery we moved slowly in procession into Yangi Hissar. It was a relief to enter the cool, dustless streets of the bazaars, which here are not domed as in Persia but roofed after a fashion with sacking and wattles. The shops struck us as neater and cleaner than those of India or Persia, the counters of the many food-shops, fruiterers, butchers, etc., being well scrubbed. The Chinese shops are particularly neat and tidy, and reminded one of village general shops at home.

My computer keeps glitching; every couple of hours it just reboots without warning.

Nor does it behove western commentators whose countries are occupying Iraq to lay down conditions for those opposing it.

My good friend Sexwolf, quoth the Norman, in very tolerable Saxon, “I pray you not so to misesteem us."