[Un-numbered file] 'Diary of Colonel Hamilton's Visit to Nejd 1918' [‎27r] (53/206)

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Hafar al Ats. Camped at 2-35 p.m. on 3rd ridge of Dahanali (counting from
the south). Splendid grazing—mostly arfaj, nussi, and some urta. Bottoms
between ridges not so level as further westward. I think this is a better road
than that via Al-Gara’a and Gaiyiyah by which we went to Buraidah in October.
Learnt to-day that the wonderful Ats Shaib commences at Shagrah, cuts through
Jabal Tuwaiq, at or near Thadiq, and finally finishes in the Nufudh S. W. of
Hafar al Ats.
Distance 50 hours, 35 minutes,
Dawn —Temp. 55°, Bar. 2,730'.
miles.
11th Started at 7-10 a.m.; halted for ^ hour at 8-55 for break
fast on the plain below 3rd ridge.
Marched across this plain for 1 hour.
Crossing 1th ridge reached plain
beyond at 11-35 a.m. This plain is about 2 miles broad, fine grazing, not much
sign of a road, ground even over ISTufudh quite firm. Met Alush bin Bargis
al "Dawish Mutair and gave him a pair of binoculars and 20 dollars.
Bought one hawk and greyhound from % Subai Shaikh for 20 dollars.
Subai are very good-looking people. Bidge in front reached at 11-35 a.m. is
called Al-Hamrawi ( ). Crmped on 5th ridge at 2-15 pm.
12th Decm&er.—Marched at 7 a.m., crossed 5th ridge and broad plain
beneath, marching N. E. (a change from
Distance 58 hours, 5mmute, miles. yesterday). This alteration of our course
Dawn Temp. 43°, Bar, 2,750 . W as, so the guide told us, in order to hit
off the broad Jaham ( ) ridgeat its narrowest. Sand ridges very steep
on north side, but, generally speaking, the marches are easier in gradient than
further west and firmer and more covered with vegetation, especially with nussi
o-rass which is wonderful here. Have not been well last 3 days ; feverish, cold.
Yesterday hawked hare and to-day a fat bustard. Halted for breakfast or
coffee at 1C-15 for 4.-5 minutes—magnificent grazing in raudha between 6th
and 7th ridges. Temperatuie 44° this morning ; cold and drizzling at midday.
Had race with Bin Baud’s men for £1. Ghunaim Mutair on my thelul
Hamama ” won, Amar being 2nd, and the rest nowhere.
Marched till 3-15 p.m. Drizzle all the afternoon and cold. Put up 4
hares and coursed 2 without success, the second getting into a deep hole.
Nearly lost the hawk but Mirshid got it back by working a pair of bustard
wings and calling “ Thiab-Tkiab ”.
Passed the last ridge of the Dahanah and entered the Summan at l-4i5 p.m.
The Jaham is the broadest of all the 7 ridges. Such wonderful grazing,
camel shrubs, and nussi grass I have never seen anywhere as this afternoon;
indeed, these last 3 days we have passed a wonderful grazing country. The
northern slopes of the Dahanah ridges are far steeper than the southern.
Had dinner in my tent with ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin Hassun, ‘Abdullah, Mirshid,
and Amar to eat the bustard and hare. Most cheery dinner, with plum-pudding,
joint, tea, and biscuits to follow the great meat dishes. ✓
Tobacco is much in demand in this bleak weather.
Distance—65 hours, 50 minutes, miles,
Dawn —Temp. 51°, Bar. 2,550'.
Pahad al Dhafiri is a great joke. Always chilly, we find he wears everything*
including chajiyah and aba, in duplicate or triplicate.
13th Decemfo?’.— Started as usual at 7 a.m., had coffee at 9-4i5 a. m., came
into camp ; still on the Summan at
3-5 p.m. The Summan landscape, stony
hills with depressions, like so many huge
hoof-marks in mud, sometimes circular but more generally elliptical, with no
apparent exits. The bottom is clay and covered with vegetation. A dreary
country passed through to-day reminding me to some extent of ptarmigan
ground in Scotland. Tried hawk and hound to-day but had no luck. The
hares have, all of them, got dee$) holes in the rocky summits of these hills. Hounds
o-et their feet cut about by stones. The hawk did not like the weather to-day.
It has certainly been bitterly cold and gloomy. North wind and heavy clouds
that will not rain. General direction now due north.
14th December .—Started as usual 7-5 a.m. Marched in bitter cold
Distance—70 hours, 15 minutes, miles. rain with gUStS of sleet Until 10-15 A. M,
Temp. 52°, Bar. 2,360'. when we halted for breakfast