File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎106r] (220/834)

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touch heavier during the afternoon, when we were safely under
canvas, and the temperature at 3 p.m. stood at 42 - 8°. Next
morning at G a.m. the thermometer read 41‘S 0 , the rain having
continued throughout the night, but I resisted the urgent
entreaties of my companions for delay and insisted on a start.
Accordingly at 7.30 we were in the saddle descending on to the
great plain of Maruta, sloping gradually upwards by easy steppes
to the edge of the third line of Nafudh, called Nafudh Dalqan,
some twenty miles distant. The rain had left its mark on the
plain, which in parts was a shimmering mass of water and in
other thoroughly sodden.
At two and a half miles from the eastern edge of the plain
we passed the wells of Tubraq, of which three are in present use
and contain excellent water near the surface, all being lined
with stone, while others have fallen into disuse. Water was
however no consideration to us now, as rain-water collected from
the pools and puddles in which it lay is considered infinitely
superior to any well water and in my opinion fully justifies the
preference given to it, as there always seemed to be a slightly
brackish taste in the water even of those wells which are
reckoned sweet. Three miles further on we left the wells of
Sudaira about half a mile to our right, the southern extremities
of the Tuwaiq being visible in the far distance in the direction
of Hauta, while the shadowy outline of a distant range began to
show up to westward, this being the Ardh range, whose
prominent double-peaked mountain called Idhuain Shamal, or
“the ears of the north,” was henceforward a landmark to steer
upon.
Just before reaching the edge of the Nafudh Dalqan we
passed the Dalqan wells, three in number and containing drink
able water of inferior quality. This Nafudh is not ol great
extent, being somewhat less than two miles from east to w r est,
and on the western edge of it we halted for the night, taking
for the first time since we left Riyadh the precaution of turning
aside from the main track into a hollow, for we were now on the
furthest eastern boundary of the Ateibah s haunts and no longei
entirely secure from molestation, though our party had iepie-
sentatives of the Ateibah and indeed of all the tribes of Centra
Arabia to pilot us through in safety. In view of this precaution,
it struck me as somewhat strange that at intervals during the
night our Ateibah rafiqs went out to the four corners of our
camp and announced 'in a loud voice who we were and whence
and whither journeying, incidentally also inviting anyone who
might happen to be within earshot to come in to partake ol any
meal that might be going, or of coffee. It is curious that thoug i
this procedure was followed nightly till our arrival at fait, we
had but very few responses to our invitation.
Next morning we traversed the great bare plain of Hadba
Qidhla, seventeen miles in breadth, with the Ardh range ever
becoming clearer before us, until at last we cios^ed t e i £