Correspondence Relating to Ibn Saud Circulated to Kuwait by Other Gulf Posts [‎178v] (356/408)

6 . Halted for prayers at Jfwc/cZwr, arriving 7-30 p.m., ten miles west of
’Ojair. Said Maghrib and Asha prayers, took coffee and started again at
8-30 p.m. All in goodspirits*
7. The route is over sandy ground, rather little hills of sand "'dunes,’
without any path or track, still Muhammad A1 Aswad knows his way—does
not own that he is guided by stars, A few “ Fasti ” wild date palm, our
Indian Ak, and one or two kinds of shrubs here and there form the only
green. Our camels avail themselves of a snatched morsel of these shrubs every
now and then.
8 . Muwaih was reached at 12-30 after midnight, after a good five hours’
run, covering at least 20 miles of deep sand, the patient quiet camels moving
up and down the dunes. We felt tired and Farhan, remembering Major
Hickson’s “Not to cook me too fast,” ordered a halt. We slept on the cool
sands till 3-30 a.m., when Muhammad Al Aswad awoke us with a peremptory,
even harsh “Goomoo Salloo ”. Fine star-lit night, cool and calm. No moon,
no sound except the little wail of the camel which must needs be tired, having
come down over night from Hofuf (over fifty miles) and now doing the return
journey afer a few r hours * rest. Our kit and servants are still behind though
they started from Muwaih with us. Starting at 1 a.m.
9. Sabakhah was passed at sunrise. It is a watering place or where
temporary little pools are dug, as at Muwaih, and sweet water comes out in a
sufficient quantity. Small level plain or wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. with a patch of green surrounded
by sand hills or dunes (Taus plural of Taas as these are
called by Arabs). We passed on at some distance of it, leaving it at about 400
yards to our left (east). The route, seen now, lay over a level plain of whitish
(salt) ground, a narrow valley among sand dunes, for about two miles. Saw
several little heaps of camel bones, skeletons lying in this valley. These were
the poor beasts that were “ Inqataa” (= cut off—very expressive word indeed
characteristic of the Arabic language) from the train by sheer fatigue and
heavy load. This is about middle of the distance between ’Ojair and Hofuf ;
the wretched animal must have found himself unable, after a halt, to go on
any farther, and been beaten to death by the cruel Hai in an attempt to make
him go on. We had to exchange tw o of our camels which had been giving
trouble, sitting down every now and then and refusing to go on (Muhammad-
al-Aswad’s and Farhan’s). Former picked out two out of a lot going down
unladen to bring cargo from ’Ojair ; as result we went on at a better pace.
10. Oehdeht I was told, was some miles off to our left (east). It was at
this place that the whole of the-Turkish Askar (garrison) was surprised and
butchered to a man by the Manasir Badoos.
11 . Jishskeh, a big village with a ‘ Soor ’ wall, was first seen from the last
and highest sand-hills (Taus) at 8 a.m., Jebel Garrah (G=Q= .£)((,=well-fixed)
and Jebel Buraigab (lit. little bright thing) also seen at a distance of 19 miles
or so to the N.-N.-W. Former is higher and longer of a dull sandy colour,
while the latter, as its name suggests, is small and of a whitish colour. The
village is inhabited by the Hassa Arabs and seems to contain some 300 house»
. with population of 1,200 to 1,500 souls. Fine little mud-houses, nearly all
one story. We passed on to Jafar, arriving at 9 a.m: From Jishsheh, it may
be said, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hassa begins with a long stretch of date palms, fine gardens and
green fields. Barley freshly harvested. Inhabitants are all Falalih. Plenty
of water from springs.
12. Jafar, a smaller village than Jishsheh of same type. We could not
go on although Hofuf is only two hours’ distance. It is now 9 a.m., but the
sun is so (strong and wind Gharbi) so hot that it is (in addition to the fatigue)
most discomforting, if not risky, to continue the march to Hofuf. We have
already been moving pretty fast for about 13 hours and must have, I think,
covered at least 50 miles. Halted for “ Maqil ” (mid-day rest) at one Farhau
Al Ajail’s, who gave us a good lunch. Abdullah bin Hasan Al Qusaibi joined
us here. He comes to receive us. Had fine grapes, figs, water-mellons and
fi-esh dates, exceptionally good and very cool, “ Laban ” (whey) almost icy
cool owing to Gharbi, hot wind. Took coffee at Amir’s and started at 4 p.m.
Halted for Asar prayers.