[Un-numbered file] 'Diary of Colonel Hamilton's Visit to Nejd 1918' [‎65r] (129/206)

4-
Ji'-
■tiatlni iW jirfiMitM
Dist:lb3 hours.
383 miles.
Tern: 64 ° • Bar: 32 ro».
Started at B.b5 p.n. f and pulled at 4.5b p.ra.
as we did not ^ ish to reach f udhnib before
morning. We cot to mthin about P hours dista:
tance of A1 I‘udhnib and camped in >iollow with
sparse M arfaj*‘ and other grazing shrubs for
camels,
i Tovember 4th .
Started at 3.10 a.m. and got to
a place near Mudhnib, marching ritill over
undulating stony ground, waited r or sunrise
and then started to town and met two riders
sent out by the Ameer to meet us, he went
to his place and there had tea and coffee.
The coffee-hall was a long, darkish room with
a large firepit at one end, in which stood
8 or 9 large coffee-pots. As usual plenty of
carpets and a cushioned corner to the right
of the hearth looking down the hall. Conversa
tion for about an hour, and then went off to
our camp to dress and wash. Some talk about
Shaekspear, who passed through here in the
spring of 1912 when returning from Kiadh.
Ameer tells me that Bin Saud makes this a
regular half when passing backwards and for- <i
wards to Kasim. The route by the Kistawi is
more even going and better for camels as far
as grazing is concerned, but this way“through
the villages 11 as they say, is nearer and has
the great advantage of plenty of water at
short stages and supplies. But, if I return I
shall go by the Mistawi. One marches better
in the desert; these villages lead lounging
and general carelessness in ones followers, As
for safety there is not much to choose
between the two for a small party. A large
party, say of 20 riders, would however be
be absolutely safe by this route and not
ao by the desert way. tribes have