[Un-numbered file] 'Diary of Colonel Hamilton's Visit to Nejd 1918' [‎26v] (52/206)

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about 5 miles to the east. Horse spiked in off forehoof deliberately. The
operator had left blood on near foreleg up to knee.
Started at 9-25 a.m. The men (Mushin and Mutlaq) whom I sent with
the lame pony overnight returned bringing Khudhayar and Eaja’an whom they
had met on the way. At about 10-45 a.m. we got clear of the sandbank, called
Araij al Banban, .smd crossed an open plain going thence due north towards
the Al-Arumah range, making for a gap in the hills which we reached at 1-45
p.m. Here on the right the cliffs are broken down as if by heavy artillery.
This is called khanasar (little fingers) (). The whole range of
Al-Arumah is extraodinarily like a fort on a hill, such as Chiborgarh and others
like it in India.
Between 2-45 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. we crossed three watercourses, or shaibs
as they are called, viz., Al-Ruaighib ( *-*^1 ), Silah ( ), and Khanasir
(). At 3-45 we reached the highest point on the pass when 1 took
the barometric reading (3,400 ft.). There were higher domes on the right,
perhaps 400 ft. above the road. The valley narrowed now and we came on
to a watercourse where we camped at 4-45 p.m. having marched 7 hours
on end *.
9th December .—Started at 6-45 a.m. At 7-25 A.M. came in sight of valley
Distance — 36 hours, 25 minutes, miles. Al-Ats ( ), At 7“45 A.M.
Temp. (F.) 54°, Bar. 3 , 275 '. entered valley which cuts the Al-Arumah
range in 2 and is here about 4 miles
broad. Our march was over red sand in a northerly direction, the ground
falling away slightly to the east. The wells are due K E. from this point on
the edge of the Ats_ valley. Many Arabs about, mostly Subai and Sahul.
Valley of Ats runs M. S. W. and E. N. E. Splendid grazing, sandy.
At 12-25 p.m. began to re-enter range of Al-Arumah from Ats, which here
takes a bend to the north, we keeping our direction of 10° East of North. Half
an hour later on our left hand are two hills somewhat like a woman’s breasts
called Khanadar. Kept on till 2-25 p.m. when we crossed a broad watercourse
called Al-Teri (1. Ascended slope and after 20 minutes reached high
ground overlooking the wells in the bed of the Ats. The wells, 12 in
number, hold good water, 84 ft. of water in evening at this time of year, but
as at least 2,01)0 camels have been watering before us the level has probably
gone down. Bed of Ats is here black with the trodden dung of ages; water is
drawn by camels pulling a rope. Many women seem to be employed on this job.
liiey look curious riding draught camels among the men. At the near well
o camels were drawing at the same time. Shot some sandgrouse. Hafar
al Ats is at least 3 hours south of the nearest Dahanah belt and not as showm on
the map in the Dahanah.
10th December.
Distance—45 hours, miles.
Temp. 64°, Bar. 2,660'.
-Jjert Malar al Ats at 7 a.m. Lovely pink dawn, though
cloudy morning. A few drops of rain
had fallen in the night. Got a heavy
, . , . „ cold and fever. Thousands of camels were
marching out from wells, where they had been watering overnight. There
came m strings of sheep and camels from opposite directions to take their places
Some Shammar shepherds on their way to Bin Sand came into camp last night
» d - eilt l n T1 tliei £ wa 7 to Eia dh this morning. They belonged to the Aslam
ral r f 10 M° f f . r0 . m Barazi ’ s lot - There was £ boy with them
appearance? 111 ^ ^ Ehudhai y im ’ about 11 y eai ’s °ld> very pleasing in
0ur direction at starting was 10° West of North. Marched till 10-35 a.m
en v. o reached the Dahanah, which is thus at its nearest point 10 miles from
f "fhV 0n eleariiia the sandbank soon after starting we came at about 10-45 a.m. opposite to Al-Kbafs
X ) where, after ram, there is water for about 6 months. There is a lake there a W a ^
andmplaces vei^deep informant said it was sometimes 60 ft. deep but I can hardly Credit that 8 0 f) 8
out le.t at about 15 to 20 miles off was Tuwaiq, with the villages Salbugh, Sirrah Thadia Malham TTssI r ^
sldaSb^uTaiq “ 01 ^ 18 miles ' They belong to Mahmil w'hich is TepSted W
The two hills on the right of th, pass are called Al-Garain (^yU!). Our camp was in the valley which
t ate its name from these hrUs and 18 ref erred to as Shaib al Kurain. We have been inarching due north