Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/53

 nels, and it contains no considerable peaks or elevations. Only to the northeast could be seen a knoll of no great height with a large pile of stones upon it. Beneath this knoll, in the šeʻîb of al-Keḏer, lies the rain water well Mšâš abu ʻAmûd. To the northwest the region of al-Kḏûr extends as far as the ruin of al-Mṛejjera, which is also called Ḫirbet al-Kḏûr.

In the autumn of 1907 the clan of ʻAwde abu Tâjeh was encamped at al-Kḏûr. Their flocks, which were grazing in the šeʻibân of Abu ʻAlejdijjât, were attacked by the Šammar and driven away as booty. The Šammar also stole a herd of white she-camels (maṛâtîr) belonging to ʻAwde. Now white she-camels are the pride of every clan, and they form the only herd from which not a single animal is sold. So it is customary to have them guarded by the best fighters; and if an enemy succeeds in stealing this herd the news spreads throughout the desert, all who hear it admire the alertness of the marauder and jeer at the careless clan which allowed its white herd to be driven away. At that time ʻAwde was paying a visit to an-Nûri eben Šaʻlân, who was encamped on the southern foot of the Ḥawrân by al-Azraḳ. ʻAwde returned to his men on the day following the raid; as soon as he heard the sad and ignominious news that his white herd had been stolen from him, he at once proceeded with sixty men on camels in pursuit of the Šammar. He overtook them in the region of al-Hûǧ, on the northwestern border of the Nefûd near the well of Abu Ṯenijje. There are only two convenient roads leading from the basin in which the well is situated to the upland. During the night ʻAwde occupied both roads, surrounded the Šammar who were asleep, killed seven men, rescued the stolen herd, and took thirty-two riding camels as plunder, with which he returned to his men. The latter, who were then encamped by the rain water well Mšâš ar-Râṭijje, greeted him with hearty rejoicings.

At 6.02 A. M. we crossed the main road leading from south to north, the road which is followed by the migrating tribes. At the station of al-Ḥazm it separates from the Pilgrim Route and passes by the watering places at al-Mṛâṭijje,