Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/170

 remains a passage about twenty meters broad, covered only with a thin sandy layer in which ʻarfeǧ grows. In this passage we encamped at 8.30 P. M. Our camels grazed on the ʻarfeǧ, while in a rocky hollow we lit a cheerful fire and prepared an abundant supper. We were all hungry, for we had eaten scarcely anything throughout the day. The fire could not be seen from either side.

On Friday, June 17, 1910, refreshed by a peaceful sleep, we left our camping place at 4.42 A. M. (temperature: 19° C) and proceeded in a southeasterly direction. Our guide led us to an isolated reddened knoll, behind which is the water of al-Bêr. South of Naḳaʻ Ḳemâjem project the rocks of Ḳalʻat az-Zaʻejter, Abu Zummârîn, al-Mlosoma, and Ǧimmed; and to the north are Abu Ḫašaba, Abu Šdâd, aš-Šiḳîḳ, and Mhejmi. During the ride I asked the guide for news, and there was one thing I heard which distressed me very much. I had intended that from al-Muʻaẓẓam we should visit the oasis of Tejma, explore the region east of the railway, and meet the Weld ʻAli and Weld Slîmân, whose acquaintance I had made in the spring of 1909. But from the guide I learned that both the Weld ʻAli and the Weld Slîmân had fled away from the regions situated east of the railway and that the Turkish gendarmes had been driven from the oasis of Tejma.

Zâmel eben Subhân, guardian of Prince Saʻûd eben Rašîd, who was about ten years old, had undertaken a great military expedition against the above-mentioned tribes and the oasis of Tejma. The Weld ʻAli were encamped by Medâjen Ṣâleḥ. On June 6 or 7 their shepherds announced the arrival of Eben Rašîd. The Weld ʻAli sent the women with the baggage into the fortress, drove the flocks into the western defiles, and occupied the heights which rise on the western side of the fortress. The army of Eben Rašîd encamped to the northeast of Medâjen Ṣâleḥ, surrounded the Turkish fortress, and the troops watered their camels and horses from the wells belonging to the Turkish soldiers. The Turkish garrison, shut up as they were in the fortress, could in no way hinder them. Wishing to entice the Weld ʻAli from their advantageous position, Eben Subhân ordered the tents to be struck and began to retreat. He left only a small detachment by the