"ملف 61/6 مجلد 4 (D 34) ابن سعود وحركة الإخوان" [ظ‎‎٩‎٨] (٥٦٥/١٩٦)

did not cover their faces at all and stood looking at us as we passed by to our
campin^-sround, about 4U0 yards west of tbe "wells. ^ ater, found at a
depth of about 25 feet, is plentiful, light and sweet, but rather muddy.
117. Started at 3-30 p m as the brief interval of rest so much needed had
to be still further curtailed owing to the Amir of Sha'arah's story that Mecca
was 11 days instead of 8 days' journey, as we thought. Route lies over stony
bed of a Wadi, winding between hisih rocks. Just before sunset came out cn
a vast plain of good hard soil v\ith lots of 14 Ashab " and other grass. At 7 p.m.
halted for prayers and tea, and resumed march at 8-30 p. M., camping at
1-30 a. m . in a sandy plain near hills called Nir-as-Saghir. Good, cool
gharbi" (west) wind is blowing and the pitch dark night is, at intervals,
relieved by lightning flashes seen for away to the south and south-west.
118. Saturday, 14th August—ZSth Dhil Qaadah. Started at 4-30 A. v.
The road, a well-marked track, now passes over rocky ground, and then down
into small valleys in succession, till at 8 a. m. wp come out on abig^ sandy plain,
with high hills at a distance all around. We have just left llaDabij to our right
(north) about ten miles. It is now quite clear to me that our guides are
always taking the shortest route and leave out towns and villages, in orJer to
save time, and also to avoid the worry of more people trying to join the party
which would be an encumbrance. Ahmad Thanaiyan says that the u^ual big
Hajj-caravan or a big Ghazu cannot go by this, our route but iollows the
route indicated by the map, as that route alone has as much water as can
nearly suffice for the demands of men and camels. It is usual for Nejd
rims to assemble at Asheirah coming by different routes, and Koweit Hajis
join those at Qassim and then go under Bin Sa'ud's flag; the number is some
times forty thousand or thereabouts.
119. At 9 a. m . passed by a camp of Albargah Badu a section of the
Ataibah, lying in a low valley in about 40 " Bu^-ut Sha'ar " (tents), about 300
camels and perhaps one thousand or twelve hundred sheep and goats grazing
around. Their Shaikh is a Bin Hindi.
120. At 11 a.m . halted in a sandy nlain with good pasture for camels
Lunched and slept as the wind "gharbi" (west) still blowing; is less hot than last
few days. Probably rain has fallen in the distant hills towards the Hejaz
(west). Gave medicine to three men, Fahaid, Bin Nassar ami Marid. Former
had toothache and the others diarrhea. All cured at once. Started at 4 P.Mi
AVe are short of water and Saja wells are five or six hours' distant. Are trying
to go faster than usual to get to water. After an eight hours' march had failed
to bring us to Sa^a we encamped for the night at 12 midnight, extremely tired
and much worried. Bid not get good sleep.
121. Saturday, 15th August=29th Dhil Qnadoh. Started at 4 a.m . At
my suggestion Ahmad Thanaiyan has spoken sharply to the two Logah Badu
guides, who now admit <4 dhallaina" (we have lost our way) and promise
afresh to take us to Saja in five hours. It now appears that we have been
moving in a circle more than seven or eight hours and are now as far away from
water as at 4 p.m . yesterday. At sunrise pass by a number of strange rocks
which Icok like artificial mounds or dunes lying in a sandy plain.
122. Saja wells reached at last at 9-30 a. im . There is no permanent
population here, but a large number of the Badu of the Adh-Dhibah section of
the Ataibah are camping in their black tents. They have over 1,000 camels
and very large flocks of sheep and goats. These are one of the recent
converts to Akhwanism from the Hejaz tribes and have been driven south
east chiefly by fear of the Harh Bedouins, their hereditary foes. They feel safe
and secure on this side, but still grudge the ' zjkat" (5 percent on all property)
which Bin Sa'ud's tax collectors are busy levying at the present moment in the
Ticinity.
123. The Dhibah Badu men and women look more like " hadhai" or town-
dwellers inasmuch as they are, particularly the women are neatly dressed in
long black garments, wear some ornaments and are rather fair. Many o£ them
are bringing their camels sheep to water on one or other of the live w T ells
situaled close together in this valley, coming over in large parties from behind
the nearest bill where they have their camp. There is $ number of black;