# XLIX explained — Seven Pillars of Wisdom

> Chapter companion for Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence.

## What happens

Lawrence and the Arab force, led by Nasir and Auda, march from Wadi Sirhan toward Bair, a historic well site east of the Hejaz Railway. They discover that the Turks have partially destroyed the wells with dynamite, but one remains usable. The chapter details their strategic planning for the attack on Akaba, including deception operations to mislead the Turks about their true objective. Lawrence reflects on the Turkish army's stupidity and the need for secrecy. The group prepares to gather supplies and intelligence from local tribes while repairing the damaged wells.

## Themes in this chapter

### War and Guerrilla Tactics

The chapter details strategic deception, well sabotage, and planning for the attack on Akaba, highlighting guerrilla warfare methods.

### Suffering and Endurance

The discovery of destroyed wells and the need to repair them under threat reflects the harsh conditions and endurance required in the desert campaign.

### Futility and Meaning

The philosophical discussion about stars and knowledge contrasts Western ambition with Arab contentment, questioning the meaning of endless pursuit.

## Character check-ins

### Sherif Nasir

Leads the march on his camel Ghazala; studies stars with Lawrence's glasses; shares in planning and well inspection.

### Auda abu Tayi

Rides beside Nasir; discusses telescopes and stars; laments his son Annad's death at Bair; discovers well damage and attributes it to Jazi work.

### T.E. Lawrence

Narrates the chapter; rides camel Naama; inspects damaged wells; plans deception campaign to mislead Turks about Akaba objective.

### Ibn Zaal

Joins the discussion about stars; half-angry at Western desire for knowledge; arrives grave at sight of well destruction.

### Mohammed el Dheilan

Rides behind Lawrence with the Ageyl; asks philosophical questions about stars and other worlds.

## Key lines

> We started an hour before noon. Nasir led us, riding his Ghazala—a camel vaulted and huge-ribbed as an antique ship; towering a good foot above the next of our animals, and yet perfectly proportioned, with a stride like an ostrich’s—a lyrical beast, noblest and best bred of the Howeitat camels, a female of nine remembered dams.

The group set out just before noon, with Nasir leading on his exceptional camel Ghazala, which was tall and gracefully built, far superior to the others.

_Describes the start of the march and Nasir's prized camel._

> Auda set us on to talk of telescopes—of the great ones—and of how man in three hundred years had so far advanced from his first essay that now he built glasses as long as a tent, through which he counted thousands of unknown stars.

Auda prompted a discussion about telescopes, marveling at how human technology had progressed to reveal countless stars.

_Highlights the philosophical exchange about knowledge and the universe._

> We were disconcerted to find the Turks so ready, and began to fear that perhaps they had also raided El Jefer, east of Maan, the wells at which we planned to concentrate before we attacked.

The discovery that the Turks had sabotaged the wells at Bair worried the group, as they feared similar damage at Jefer, a key assembly point.

_Shows the setback caused by Turkish preparedness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xlix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters