"ملف 61/6 مجلد 4 (D 34) ابن سعود وحركة الإخوان" [ظ‎‎٨‎٩] (٥٦٥/١٧٨)

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and annihilated Bin Saud's force near Shuaibah—this was the reverse of truth,
etc. Shaikh Salim of Kuweit was doing mischief and shall suffer sooner than
later ; he took hold of distant tribesmen and bribed them, and then presented
them to the Political'A^ent, Kuweit, as Bin Rashid's men sent to him, Salim,
on a friendly errand. Political Agent, Kuweit, had better be warned by
Government not to listen to him, etc.
17. Bin Jiluvi's silence and the doubts expressed by the Qusaibis,
Muhammad A1 Hawwas, Sulaiman A1 Pahad A1 Bassam, and others in conversa
tion with me, make me a little dubious about the chief or sole object of my
mission—theHajj: no signs of the Imam's intended Hajj: none knows, not even
the best-informed circles; none of the middle or higher classes can go having
had no notice; only Bedouin Akhwan fire-brands may swell the ranks. 30,000
will be least number, they say, and they will go armed to a man. Once started,
they will Hajj or ( ie, etc., etc. If Bin Saud had not given notice, not less than
50,000 Nejdis would have gone to the Hajj. I only thank God, and admire
Bin baud's w T isdom in keeping it so secret.
18. Monday, 19th July = 2nd Bhil Qaadah. —Visited Shaikh Abu Bakr,
•n old Alim and pious man of Iraq origin, whose father settled in Hassa. The
Wahhabis destroyed his father's grave, at the instance of Bin Saud some say,
sis he was revered as a " Wali" or saint.
19. Also visited Muhammad Effendi, Qusaibis Hawwas, Bassam and
Dhukair, all of whom received us very well and entertained us with fruit and
coffee. Nice respectable people, full of praises for their Imam. I noticed
again that Bin Jiluvi is not only feared but also respected for his just though
harsh administration of this district, which was so notorious for murder or
rapine during the time of Turks, only seven years ago.
20. Our departure to-day is postponed again, it is said, to await arrival of
good mounts; camels sent for from pome distance.
21. Tuesday, 20th July = 3rd Dhil Qaadah, —Wrote letters to Bahrein.
Received several visitors, chief being Harbi bin Aqil, Shaikh of Bani Khalid,
and Tami bin Khalid, Shaikh ot Bani Hajar. IS o signs of our onward move.
Saw Bin Jiluvi and pointed out the delay. He promised to despatch us
to-morrow without fail. Reason of delay does not appear except that special
dromedaries requisitioned from distant place are still to come. Those present
are not good enough.
22. Hasan and Abdullah Qusaibi called and minor requirements for th«
journey arranged for.
23 TFednesday, the 2lst July = 4th Dhil Qaadah. —Bin Jiluvi sent me ten
camels, two special for myself and Parhan, three for servants, and five for escort
and kit. They were sent with kit to wait for us at the wells, four miles out on
the route to Riyadh. Parhan and myself, with three Pidawis, started, at 4 p.m.
on horseback. Pound all ready at the wells. One, Pahad bin Jabir of Riyadh,
with Muhammad Sulaiman ana Rashid of Buraida and two servants are also
going with us. So our caravan of 15 camels and one mare (given as present
" Bubharah " to Ibn Jabir, who brought good news for Bin Jiluvi of the victory
over the Shammar) started off for Riyadh at 6 p.m . Prom the town of Hofuf
to this point, wells, there are big sand dunes. The Pidawis returned after I
gave them the customary "Ikram", the others, namely Bin Jiluvi's men and
three attendants having been paid in the morning. We carry 14 skins of
water, non-available on route till after four days' march or within two days of
Riyadh. Escort 'Abdullah Bin 'Adwah of the A]man, (2) his son Mutlaq,
(3) Hadhdhal Hajiri, (4) Duhaim Hajiri, (6) Rajih Hajiri. Ground near
Hofuf, four miles or so, sandy, then hard, level, stcny valley, with hills on both
sides of the route. Passed a hill called " IJthmaniyah" at 9-30 p.m . and
Ghar," a big den in the rocks, at 11-30 p.m ., and halted for rest at Na'alah, a
sandy wadi or plain at 1-00 a.m ., re-starting at 4 a.m . Cool, calm night. Ibn
Adwah shouted " Goomoo Salloo," got up, prayed and rode off.
HOPUF TO NA'ALAH-S HOURS.
24. Thursday, 22nd July = 5th Bhil Qaadah. —Left Na'alah at 4 a.m.
The route lies over sandy ground; went down into a deep (200 feet)
wadi, Al-Ghawar, deep sands, good deal of pasture— u Ashab " Arfaj "
and " Hanzal" like small melons; this is the well-known medicine for boils,