[Un-numbered file] 'Diary of Colonel Hamilton's Visit to Nejd 1918' [‎31v] (62/206)

■ §«
6
Note.
Name of stony tract
Wells to S. W.
. Amjuzal ( )
. Alhataki ( )
Distance —116 hours, 20 minutes, 300 miles.
At 5 f.m. —Temp. 95°, Bar. 3,230'.
The water after flood flows in this depression from Tumair beyond Majmali
and the flood passes Artawiyah bnt cannot cross the Dahanah; it is said to
form a big, shallow^lake near Artawiyah which, in some years, lasts for 2 or 3
months. Al-Bataniyah ( ) is the joint name given to the wells of
Artawiyah ( ), Dujani ( ), Gaiyiyah ( ), Albatarah ( *,>**) ),
and Al-Hathaki (
Continued march at 3-45 p.m. and on into the night pulling up at about
Distance —116 hours, 20 m nutes, miles. 9-55 p.m. Lovely temperature at night
n °w. One or two scares of Arabs
occurred but we encountered none. Ghunaim very uncertain about the way.
2otli OctobeY. Marched at 5-45 before sunrise and reached descent
into the deep, stony gorge, wdiich forms
the entrance into Zilfi. from this direction,
about 8-55 a.m. The baggage camels
came very slowly. Tins steep place is called Attawaij ( w, ). W e waited
for the camels for i an hoar at the first well. There was a small garden
attached to the well and a square cover exactly over it. The well was cut
into the solid rock the water being about 18 ft. below the surface when we
saw it, which was after many sheep had been watered. It was not more than
2 or S miles from Zdfi hut we did not get to our camp between the 2 towns
hour 11-45 A ' M " 0UI> pr0gTesS was latterl ? at the rate of abo ^ a mile an
At 2-15 in the afternoon the Amir of Zilfi, by name Usman ibn
Muhammad, who lives m the western town, came to call. We had sent on
2 riders to mform him of our arrival from the first well (Mirshid and
Abdullah al Dahabas went on). Usman is an old man, very gentle and
polne m manner. He has invited us all to dinner. We halt to-morrow when
I hope to see the 2 towns. The new town, which replaces that destroyed by
Ibn Rashid some years back, is a quadrangle facing north with 5 towers
connected by a curtain, the height of which is about 15 ft. The east and
vest sides have 3 square towers, m addition to the circular towers connecting
them with north and south faces. We camped at a distance of about' 700
yards from the east face of the new town. The old town is about If miles
horn the new one. The Amir has promised to take me over the old town
from^TiTfi rnlTV 8 if SUbUr i b l ymg Very slightl F west of novth > about 3 mil ^
AmirintneV. 6 raiarab ( )• 4-45 p.m. had coffee with the
A inn his house and afterwards took a photograph of the west side of new
Zim. During coffee conversation turned on the question of nasses The
Kuwait^ Wp e p rSt ? d t0 i r 7 ^ paSSeS giverL him had not hee^accepted at
iLn dven^ his Dame bad not
name g b ?5 S ? ud as . one 0 | tbe Amirs q^ ab fied to grant passes in his
name. Many of the principal merchants of Kuwait, he tells me, are from
f igrated thither ia recent generations. It seems
mat all the aristocracy of Kuwait, as well as the places like Zubair and
Al S y (^Tj|^ a3dl ^ New Zilfiis called A1 - A i da M ) and old Zilfi
26th October. Halted. Visited old Zilfi with the Amir and spent a couple
2ayii 3 ht—Temv. 56°, Bar. 3 , 210 '. ^ bou rs shopping there with Mullah
not unfrienrllv Abdullah to assist me. People cool but
fellows who hafp ii,! a U berp ’ as everywhere, a few of the Akhwan, sour-faced
infirlpl tt i rr i ovia l people of Kuwait almost more than they do the
w ith b^m Ha Ti C ° ffee i m tbe afternoon with ‘ Ali al Dhuwaihi and a long cS
1 1 him. Ine gardens m the rocky clifts, each with its protecting tower and
couple of armed men standing or, gold, are the most
27th October. Halted. Had breakfast with the Amir in his garden about
Temp. 60 °, Bar. 3,280'. a behind new Zilfi. Saw w T ell from
w hich 4 camels ’were drawing water
mk m
MM ■■■■■■I