[Un-numbered file] 'Diary of Colonel Hamilton's Visit to Nejd 1918' [‎20r] (39/206)

9
tender. He lias a look of his father, but is of quite a different build, being
light and rather fragile.
I asked him about his grand father, Abdur Eahman’s, health and learnt
that he was well.
31st October, Buraidah .—Turki came at about 8-15 a m., accompanied by
the G-overnor of the town, ‘Abdul Aziz bin Jaluwi ( ), and
Abbas al Falaji ( ), commonly referred to as Abbas “Beg”,
leading about 100 horsemen, mostly African slaves. Before coming
to the camp they galloped past me as I stood by a tent peg, firing rifles and
revolvers, waving swords, and looking very warlike. I pretended to be duly
impressed with this childish fantasia, which was intended as a special honour
to me. Afterwards we had a mejlis in a large reception tent which Turiii
had had pitched for us. Tea, coffee, and biscuits were partaken of and then Turki,
with the abovementioned personages, adjourned with me to my private tent
to discuss business. Ibn Rashid is at present in Madinah with Fakhri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
while Ibn Lailah is at Damascus with Jamal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . Turki says Ibn Rashid
has only about 400 men with him, but can always assemble the Shammar in
case of urgent need and it is not possible to take Hail by a coup de main.
The two main questions which I had to put to lurki were :—(1) why he
gave the Shammar caravan a letter to Shaikh Salim for niusctbilah at the end
of September, and (2) if it were possible for him to take Hail at this time
when Ibn Rashid is obviously so weak. As regards (1) Turki says he only
gave the Shammar a slip of paper addressed to all and sundry intended to be
for a safe conduct among his tribes lest they should interfere with or attack
them. He never meant to give them a pass for mmabilah on the way to
Kuwait. As for (2) capturing Hail he said that, in the first place, it would
not be possible to gather his powers rapidly enough to take Ibn Rashid by
surprise, and, secondly, he knew that there was one vi'lage or suburb of Hail
which was strongly fortified and garrisoned by the Turks. His orders from
his father were to seduce the Shammar and prevent them returning to Ibn
Rashid while keeping the Mutair from raiding tribes which had sent quotas
to fight under the Sherif. Neither answer is really satisfying. The fact is
that an informal truce exists among the tribes of both parties. Bin Baud’s
policy is evidently approved of by all. The Bedouin’s one idea at the present
moment is to share in the rich harvest of British subsidies and the profits of
blockade-running.
1st Aovm&er.—Rode in early morning to S. W. of city through palm gardens
and on our way home had coffee with one
Ibn Bahush. I offered to go and call on -
Distance, 141 hours,
At dawn —Temp. 56°
miles.
Bar. 3,325'.
Turki to take my leave, but received a
message from him requesting me to stay in camp until the afternoon, when he
would” himself come and start me on my way. Waited till 4 p.m., when he
3 ame out with all his horse, including the Governor, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin Jaluwi,
the Arafah (Salman), and another. Was very pleasant and rode with me for
mile, when he requested leave to return. He said he had just received word
from his father sanctioning his return to Riadh as soon as he could be relieved
by Fahad ibn Maamar, the former Governor. I am glad I did not meet that
* surly individual *. Buraidah people struck
! me, however, as not unfriendly; on the
contrary, they appeared glad to see me and
were more frank than the Zilfis. Nevertheless, I hear from.my entourage that
:hey are really inclined to be fanatical, though the palm for fanaticism must now
be given to Artawiyah, where all the elect have migrated. Buraidah bazaars
ire most disappointing. The place struck me as under some evil spell and as
most unprogressive, badly built, dirty, and generally uncared for. The inhabit-
mts have no great love for Bin S&ud or for Hail either.
* The account of him given by Raunkiaer
borne out by bis reputation.
Marched till 8-25 p.m., crossed the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Rummah at about 7-55 p.m., and
seemed to be continuously in the vicinity of date gardens till the last 2 miles.
Halted on the height overlooking ‘Anaizah.
2nd November. —Descended to lower ground by a stony, but not very steep,
path and was met by the nephew of the
Amir and 2 messengers. It appears that I
%
\
46 F. & P. I).