File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎87v] (183/834)

love lost between these Ibmtans and aii} (A the “j oie ^
civilized folk who inhabit Kuweit and Basrah. The P la ^ ^
of Metawwa, or overseers, who punish offences of a le
nature such as slackness in attending prayers, and even smoking
tobacco, by thrashing the delinquents. . , .,
While talking to Watban, his cousin Mohammed ibn rahad
el-Ashar repeatedly smote the ground, boasting of the importance
of the Muteir. He said there were 35,000 people m Artawiyah
‘ yes bv God, and more’—while Watban remarked, and God
mant that this (settlement) may advance the Faith —so we may
Take it that the Muteir are going m hot and strong for this
revivalist movement. As we left Gayyiyah, our party, one and
all, including the Muteir rafiqs, the greatest smokers amongst us,
cursed Artawiyah and all connected with the place.
We reached Zilfi without further incident ]ust before mid
day on October 25. We were well received by the Emir Osman
el-Mohammed, with whom we dined. Next day we visited both
towns of Zilfi, the old and the new. They are separated by a
distance of just under two miles. The inhabitants of ilti
appear to be'friendly, but here, as elsewhere in Nejd, so 1 am
told, there is a large and increasing number of Ikhwan. I sent a
camel rider to Bureidah, with one of the Emir of Zilti s sons,
taking a letter to Turki ibn Saud announcing my arrival here and
intended journey to see him at Bureidah.”
Colonel Hamilton’s account of Artawiyah is confirmed by
Sheikh Feisal ibn Ferhan el-Jerba, of the Northern Shammar,
who passed through Artawiyah on his way from Riyadh to
Kuweit. Sheikh Feisal, who was returning from a visit to the
Sherif, arrived in Baghdad at the beginning of November. He
states that Feisal el-Dawish has built himself a large qasr at
Artawiyah and that his example has been followed by several
minor sheikhs. A numerous colony is established round the
wells, the water of which is sufficiently plentiful to admit of
cultivation being carried on. Feisal el-Jerba had no sympathy
with the stringency of Wahabi regulations touching tobacco, but
as a good Mohammedan he felt obliged to testify to the punctual
attendance at prayers on the part of the community. It was
clear, however, that he had not enjoyed his stay at Artawiyah,
nor does he feel any love for the Muteir who looted him west of
Rass, on his way from Mecca to Riyadh.
ARABIA.
North-West.
Intelligence.
Northern Operations.
Maan was bombed by two aeroplanes on January 25, several
direct hits being obtained on the station and considerable damage
being done to buildings and rolling stock. A few miles w r est of