Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/39

 season Prince ʻAbdalʻazîz eben Saʻûd had been encamped within the area of al-Ḥasa. The minister, Zâmel eben Subhân, regent for Saʻûd eben Rašîd who had not yet attained his majority, had concluded peace with Prince ʻAbdalʻazîz and had established his authority among the Šammar and among the inhabitants of the various settlements in their territory, especially in the town of Ḥâjel. In the environs of this town and, in fact, in the whole territory belonging to the Šammar, there had been a great abundance of rain during the last two years, so that there had been a great increase in the prosperity of the Šammar; and many of the smaller tribes who owed their allegiance to Eben Saʻûd had joined the Šammar for the simple reason that they sought pastures for their flocks. Many of the orthodox Moslems are said to have regarded the lack of rain in the territory of Eben Saʻûd as a punishment sent from Allâh because Eben Saʻûd’s followers had joined the unbelievers and slaughtered the faithful children of Mohammed. Fawzân declared that ʻAbdalʻazîz eben Saʻûd would not be content until he had driven out Eben Rašîd and occupied all the latter’s territory, including the town of Ḥâjel. This would be an act of revenge, as Mḥammad eben Rašîd had once expelled ʻAbdalʻazîz’s father, ʻAbdarraḥmân, from his residence at ar-Rijâḍ and had established his deputy, or ʻâmel, there. The deputies of Eben Rašîd had resided at ar-Rijâḍ until the year 1902.

At the end of 1901, Prince ʻAbdalʻazîz rode out from the town of al-Kwejt, where he had been dwelling with his father, ʻAbdarraḥmân. Accompanied by an escort of ten, he found adherents among the ʻAǧmân tribe, which was encamped in al-Ḥasa, and with them advanced toward ar-Rijâḍ, where his ancestors had formerly resided. The inhabitants of this town hated ʻAǧlân, the representative of Eben Rašîd, and longed for the return of the old ruling family. ʻAbdalʻazîz pitched his camp at a point about two hours’ journey from the town and, when night fell, led his men on foot under cover of darkness to the gardens. There he was awaited by the citizens who were favorably disposed towards him. They led him from the gardens into the town and after midnight they attacked the citadel which was the residence of ʻAǧlân, whom they slaughtered with his friends. After the fall of the town of ar-Rijâḍ, nearly all the remaining settlements acknowledged ʻAbdalʻazîz as their ruler, and in a short time he was