Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/77

 nahhâb, ẓaʻîfhom šaḥḥâḏ).” I was unwilling, and indeed unable, to give them food, as we did not know when we should reach Tebûk, where we could obtain fresh supplies. When Mḥammad, a servant of the chief ʻAwde abu Tâjeh, to whom the ʻAlâwîn were in the habit of sending gifts, offended them by his words and gestures, they wanted to drive away our camels, declaring that they damaged their corn. Ismaʻîn, who was guarding the camels, was unable to keep them off and had fired a shot for help. Running up to the disputants I endeavored to pacify both sides and after a while succeeded. We should have liked to move on, but Rifʻat had not yet returned. When at last he came running back, he pointed to his half-torn clothing and explained that among the rocks to the west he had been attacked by shepherds and robbed of everything he had. Not until an older man came up to the shepherds and explained to them whence we came and that we had a soldier (ʻaskari) with us, did they restore a few things to him.