"ملف 61/6 مجلد 4 (D 34) ابن سعود وحركة الإخوان" [و‎‎١‎٠‎١] (٥٦٥/٢٠١)

firewood carried their rifles, ready for an emergency. None caine and the
pickets were called and the march resumed at 2-30 p .m , after a hurried lunch.
146. As we were going along slowly and cautiously, three men were
sighted about a mile ahead of us riding on camels and coming in our direc
tion. A halt was ordered and there was a suspense till the men came up
slowly. These proved to be the escort so anxiously awaited. They gave us their
names as Awaz-al-Asmi, Jabir Ar-Rogi and Said-Ar-Rogi. Their party of 30
men had been ordered the previous night by telephone and started Irom Taif
from three different routes " to mee^ Bin Sa'ud's 3 ama ' a ^ or men .
They were puzzled to see our small parly, and wondered if it was not a
different party and an Akhwan " Ghazu
I - J j T . Took coffee and started again. Asheirah ^ left about four miles to
our ri^ht (north). There is no permanent population there, I am told, but
only temporary Badu camps of Ar-Rogah, Al-Hadhil and others.
148. The route goes winding round hills. At 4 p.m ., we reached a
small valley lying under high hills and a party of some ten or twelve Badu were
seen on the tdp of one of these about 800 yards away. They fired ten shots
in our direction and as others were joining them by twos and tbrCes from behind
the hills, about thirty shots more were fired at intervals from this and two
other rocks. Fortunately, no one was hit, although a few shots passed just
over our heads. We stepped at once, made our camels sit and sat behind them
while one of the escort ran up, explained matters and brought off two of the
Badu with him. They were Mugatta (Ataibah) Badu, whose Shaikh is
Shallah bin Shailyan. The shots they said, were fired only by way of " ta'aruf
(mtroductioni. Tney had Martini rifles and looked like robbers and cut
throats in sp?te of their poor physique and rugged appearance.
119. We proceeded going up hill and at 5-30 p.m ., began to descend into
the Mudhiq, a narrow rugged and steep pass with high hills on both sides.
Had to go very slowly and cautiously as the road was very steep and stony till
at last we came out at 7-30 p.m ., on a large river-bed, and then ascended some
rocks reaching Aiaghasil (Sail) at 9-30 p. m . Here we were met by one Sharif
Sulaiman Al-Jaudah and three others who had beea sent by King Hussein,
and camped for the night. Extremely tired but happy to have reached
within one day of Holy Mecca.
150. Saturday, the 21st Aiigust~6th Dhll Hijjah. Rise at 4 a.m., and
as this is our " Miqat-al-Hajj " (place from where the ritual and observance
of pilgrimage begin) we all take the necessary bath and put on the tbran.
(dress which consists of two sheets of white cloth,'one being tied round the
loins and the other thrown over the shoulders. The head must not be covered
at all).
151. Staited at 6 a.m ., every one repeating aloud the necessarv " Talbiyah "
(Labbaik-a Allahuma Labbaik, i.e. Here I am, O Lord ! Here I am, present
before Thee) which has to be uttered as often as possible, and always aloud, till
the Holy Ka'abah is reached. . . \
152. At 12 noon arrived at Zemah, a small village in a beautiful little
valley with good date-palms and other trees. There are about 50 mud houses
of various Arabs, mostly farmers and a very plentiful supply of water from a
natural spring. The water comes down from a high rock in the shape or a
little waterfall and is collected in a reservoir about 40 feet square. Several
little canals are made for irrigation purposes. Here we were received by
Sharif Musaid bin Abdul Mohsin, who was sent by King Hussam with a
letter of welcome to Ahmad Thanaiyan (in reply to his, sent irom near,
Asheirah) with a party of five others, all on horseback.
153. Stopped in a hut in one of the gardens. The shade (the only kind
allowed in " ehram ") is a great relief after marching bare-headed six hours
under the Hejaz sun.
154. Two goats wore supplied by Sharif Musaid (on the King s behalf)
for lunch and the whole party including the Sharifian escort, lunched toget er.
155. At 4 p.m ., started for Mecca. The road is now a good broad
high-way winding through hills and very undulating. It is the Mecca-Tail