[Un-numbered file] 'Diary of Colonel Hamilton's Visit to Nejd 1918' [‎34v] (68/206)

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Muhammareh and from Turki, received 10 dollars each as pocket money to
spend in Qasim.
The chief peculiarity of Al-Mudhnib is the absolute flatness of the plain
on which it is built. Stony cliffs enclose the depression ; its apparent openness
to attack on all sides is also a noticeable feature. The inhabitants answered
my “ Salaam-Alaikum ” ) smilingly. I observed no surliness, but this
is due to the fact that I am passing through the country as the honoured guest
of Bin Saud and accompanied by his special messengers, Bami al Bair
and Sa’ad Ajmi.
The water of this place is salty and aperitive. No one drinks except
from one well at Qasr Ibn Saud. That water, which is about 45 ft. below
the surface, is really good and sweet ; the best we have drunk since leaving
Kuwait.
Left at 1-25 in the afternoon, and halted for | hour at Qasr Ibn
Saud, which is | hour’s march from the town (about 1| miles). We reached
Murabbah (g/*) at 5-10 p. m.
5th November .—Left camp at 5 A. m. and came within sight of Ain as
A Suwaimi and halted for breakfast at
Temp. 60 ", Bm-. 3 ,no'. 10-10 a.m. All day long passed through
good camel pasture, now and then coming
on patches of green. The depression appeared to extend about 7 or 10 miles to
the west. Passed Qasr al Amar about 9-25 a. m. at a distance
of 1^ miles from the road to the west. Kasr al Wuthailan j^) (small
ithal bushes) a little further on.
Started again at 1 p. m., having sent on Thami and Mirshid to inform
the Amir, Dakhilullah, of our arrival before sunset. Leached Ain al Juraifah
at about 4-40 p.m. A horseman came out to welcome us. We rode in with
him to the village coffee-room, just inside the fort gate, which faces north.
This is a compact fortified village with several 2-storied houses and
numerous square towers, all new looking and loopholed. There is a
palm garden with about 100 palms watered by the springs which flow through
it coming along on an underground channel from a distance of about 1| miles
S. S. E. of the village. Outside and north of the garden the water fills a ditch
with an easy slope in which camels are watered. While here our own camels
and those of the Shagrah caravan were watering and splashing about in the
fordlike ditch. Had coffee and tea and then went to the Amir’s house and
had dates, with milk and ghee. Afterwards visited gardens. Dined with the Amir
in his house ; usual boiled mutton and impure water. ‘Ali al Dhuwaihi who had
been fasting all day, silly old man, now ate too much. He and I are always
placed side by side.
6th November .—Left about sunrise, 6-15 a.m. Marched first through the
Distance—169 hours, 26 minutes, miles. Ain es Sirrah depression to foot of
Temp. 56°, Bar. 3 , 250 '. Nufudh, which we reached after about 1|
hours’ march. First J hour marched S. S. E. along the line of ihe springs. After
3 hours’ marching passed Ain ibn Sakran (water from springs and extensive
gardens). Halted at 10-25 A.M. in Nufudh ; very hot. The temperature this
morning down to 56°. Heard story of Bin Sand’s treachery towards, and defeat
by, the Ajman. Salman al Arafah whom I met at Buraidah was with the ‘Ajman
at the time. Bin S&ud had sent 2 men to the ‘Ajman in the afternoon to make
a truce till morning, but was overpersuaded by Ibn Jaluwi and his brother.
Said, to attack at dusk.
Left at 2 in the afternoon and reached hollow in sands at sundown.
‘Abdul ‘Aziz ibn Hassun cheeky ; went to strike my pony for trying to rob
dates. Told him to drop it and let pony alone.
8th Abumfor.— Started at 6 a. m„ marched till 9 a. m. Had coffee. Left
Nufudh in 20 minutes and then came on hard, black, stony ridge, crossed stony
plain till 1-55 p. m., when we re-entered red Nufudh. Good water at 18-ft. well
Distance— 177 hours, 50 minutes, miles. called Biras Sali Sent 3 men off
to fetch I dozen "skinfuls of it. Halted
at 10-40 a.m. for breakfast. Started at 1-20 p.m., left Nufudh at 1-30 in the after
noon, and passed through a stony plain and depression out of which rose
^ dozen detached stonehills of the shape of a round cake. Erom the summit of
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