'Arabia. Political Situation in Nejd' [‎131v] (3/10)

that he is a disappointed man would be a mistake, however. IS or does a word of
complaint come from his fire-eating puritan Ikhwan, who only a few months back
were declaring they would Haj in spite of the whole world.
In other words, Bin Saud and his people, the Ikhwan, have quite suddenly
decided that to stay at home to-day is a more healthy occupation.
2. The change in the political atmosphere of Nejd is not far to seek, and may
be put down in the first place to the murder of Saud al Rashid some time back and
Bin Saud's efforts to bring Hail and Shammar under his suzerainty, and in particular
to the events which have recently occurred resulting therefrom. Below I shall 1
endeavour to reconstruct and relate from the many contradictory stories and reports
exactly what happened, giving a final note as to the courses open to Bin Saud, and the
possibility of a big blaze in Arabia in the near future.
3. When the late Emir of Hail was murdered last April, Bin Saud informed His
Majesty's Government that he had concluded an agreement with the Shammar to the
effect that, though they would be permitted to manage their own internal affairs, he.
Bin Saud, would order their foreign relations. Further, that the Shammar Bedouins
were to be considered directly under himself. Bin Saud. This was correct as far as
it went, but certain facts have been suppressed.
As far as one can make out, the true facts of the above negotiations were
something as follows. On the new Emir, Abdullah bin Mitaab al Rashid, coming to
the throne, Bin Saud, knowing that he was only a boy, determined to take advantage
of this fact and impose his will on Hail and Jabal Shammar. He was helped in his
plans by the Qazi of Hail and the five chief citizens of that city. These had written
an urgent letter inviting Bin Saud to seize Hail and the reins of government. Bin
SSaud, it would appear, here made two mistakes. He thought his party in Hail was
stronger than it really was, and he did not expect Aqab bin Ajil of the Abdah section
to support the boy-Emir as whole-heartedly as he did, more especially as the latter was
the son of a negress wife and not pure member of the Rashid family. As things turned
out, however, the new Emir was at once supported by Shaikh Aqab and by one Ibn
Zuemil Siujar, a principal citizen of Hail town. Aqab's first move was to move on
Hail and take up his quarters there with Ibn Zuemil. Aqab's party at once disowned
the actions of those citizens who, friendly to Bin Saud, had sent representatives to
Riyadh, and signed the treaty which Bin Saud reported to Government. Bin Saud,
hearing that this had happened, sent a trusty person of importance direct to Hail, to
clear up what he thought to be a misunderstanding and to explain matters fully to
Shaikh Aqab and to Rashidite party. Bin Saud backed up this messenger by a show
of force in the shape of a small army of Ikhwan, 10,000 strong, under his son Saud.
This column, which was already in Qassim, almost simultaneously with the arrival of
Bin Saud's messenger in Hail moved forward in concentrated form to the frontier
town of Tailiyah. Saud's orders would seem to have been to strike should the Hail
situation turn out unfavourably. Mews of this force's movements were, however,
faithfully reported to Shaikh Aqab bin Ajil. The latter, suspecting treachery, decided
that the bolder course was to break with Bin Saud then and there. He at once
ordered the Qazi and the five leading citizens of Hail, whose sympathies were known
to be with Bin Saud, to be brought before him, and in the presence of Bin Saud's
ambassador had them executed in the market place. The ambassador himself was
allowed to return in safety. Simultaneously with his reporting himself to the young
Saud at Tarfiyah, the latter launched three attacks into Bin Rashid's country.
First attack, under the young Saud, reached Baqaa, 30 miles north-east of Hail.
It lifted a large number of sheep and camels and returned to Tarfiyah without any
loss.
Second attack, under Ibn Rabian of the Ataiba, and Faisal al Dawish of the
Mutair, raided completely round Hail, and attacked Sidr to the north of that town,
but finding their force <4 en Fair " and liable to be cut off, they also retreated without
loss, having accomplished little beyond picking up a few camels and sheep.
Third attack, under Ibn Humaid Shaikh of Al Ghatghat, Ataiba, moved on Shaiba,
some 75 miles north of Buraida. The ikhwan were at first successful and fought
a short sharp engagement, capturing much booty. As the force turned to retire
again it was attacked on all sides by Shammar horsemen and camelmen in the
vicinity of Qusaibah. Shammar were in greatly superior force, and in a short time
the retirement of Ibn Humaid lost its orderly nature and developed into a rout. All
booty captured was abandoned and it became a case of every man for himself. The