LXXXVII explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Suffering and Endurance

  The chapter vividly depicts the physical and mental suffering of Lawrence and his men during the winter march, highlighting their endurance against extreme cold, hunger, and exhaustion.

• War and Guerrilla Tactics

  The successful surprise raid on Kerak using horsemen to attack a naval target demonstrates effective guerrilla tactics.

Characters to notice

• T.E. Lawrence

  Narrator and leader; reflects on the Hesa lesson, organizes the Kerak raid, and endures the winter march.

• Sherif Abdulla el Feir

  Camped near the Dead Sea; chosen to lead the raid on Kerak with seventy horsemen.

• Sherif Zeid

  In daily touch with tribes near Kerak, who plan to join him when he moves forward.

• Emir Feisal

  Sent ammunition and food to Tafileh to improve conditions.

• Maulud el Mukhlus

  His men were gone to ground at Aba el Lissan during the march.

• Abdullah

  Animal lover who cared for the camels in the yard at Tafileh.

Key passages

• “Hesa’s sole profit lay, then, in its lesson to myself. Never again were we combative, whether in jest, or betting on a certainty.”

  The only benefit from Hesa was the personal lesson it taught me: we never again acted aggressively, even in fun or when we were sure of winning.

  Lawrence reflects on the futility of the Hesa engagement and its impact on his approach.

• “We sent him news of victory, with a project to raid the lake-port of Kerak and destroy the Turks’ flotilla.”

  We informed Abdulla el Feir of our success and proposed an attack on the lake-port of Kerak to destroy the Turkish ships.

  Describes the planning of the Kerak raid.

• “The third objective had been the Jordan mouth by Jericho, before the end of March; and it would have been a fair prospect, but for the paralysis which weather and distaste for pain had brought upon us since the red day of Hesa.”

  The third goal was to reach the Jordan River near Jericho by the end of March, which seemed achievable until the weather and our aversion to suffering after Hesa stopped us.

  Explains how the winter and trauma from Hesa hindered further progress.

• “We were penned in verminous houses of cold stone; lacking fuel, lacking food; stormbound in streets like sewers, amid blizzards of sleet and an icy wind: while there in the valley was sunshine upon spring grass, deep with flowers, upon flocks in milk and air so warm that men went uncloaked.”

  We were trapped in cold, filthy stone houses without fuel or food, while just below us in the valley there was warm sunshine, spring grass, and flowers.

  Contrasts the harsh conditions in Tafileh with the pleasant climate of the Ghor.

• “We made nearly two miles an hour, despite our difficulties; and progress was become so exciting and unexpected that its mere exercise kept us warm.”

  We traveled at about two miles per hour despite the obstacles, and the novelty of making progress helped keep us warm.

  Describes the slow but morale-boosting march through the snow.

• “They were four southerners, whom fear of the winter had turned ill at Tafileh, and who were going to rest in Guweira till it was warm again: but here in the mist they had made up their minds, like he-camels, that death was upon them: and, though they were too proud to grumble at it, they were not above showing me silently that this which they made for my sake was a sacrifice.”

  Four men from the south, already weakened by the winter, were heading to Guweira to recover, but in the mist they resigned themselves to death, silently indicating that their suffering was a sacrifice for me.

  Highlights the men's despair and loyalty during the harsh march.