Mon. March 9. [9 March 1914] Maskhur came back from the village at dawn but we did not get off till 6, the men being unskilful with the new loads. Another shining morning. 'Ajah looking wonderful with the low sun on its back rocks. The plain covered with thin grass, looking quite green in front. The camels went pretty well. The lamb walked for a bit and then rode in Sayyif's arms and slept. My bearing was between Humaimi and Jelf. At about 10 we met 3 camel riders, one clothed in scarlet. They were the bashirs from the Amir. He has taken Jof [Jawf, Al (Al Jauf)] and Shkaka [Sakakah] without a shot fired. Some friendly Shammari warned the Dughmi (W. Ali) who was camped near and he fled off to Nawwaf who also fled, he and Nuri N and E towards Palmyra [Tadmur]. Jof was left empty except for the town folk and Sa'ud walked in. He has now gone E and lies between Haizal and Haiyyaniyyeh [Hayyaniyah, Al] - on the road they mean me to take. The messengers bore salutations to me and one wanted to turn back with us - to show me the road and the water, but Ali dissuaded him since his camel was worn out. Near the hills there were some Meshhed [Najaf, An] Arabs camped - B. Hasan. Jelf and Humaimi are a continuous line of low sandstone rocks; we rode through them in about 1/4 of an hour. On the further side were some Shammar encamped, to whom we gave the news from the Amir which they had not heard. We dropped down into a dry khabra and camped in the higher ground on the opposite side. Enough 'aishb for the camels. On the way we broke to Mashkhur my intention to go to Dubaib. He was much agitated, fearing to disobey the direct order of the Shuyukh. I said I had told Ibrahim. He said the order was not from him but from Fatima. Ali then spoke with a silken tongue. Arabs all the way, the world rabi', no khauf inshallah, my bounty wd be increased. Finally Mashkhur was persuaded. And I tonight have the true freedom of the desert and rejoice therein. The lamb was killed. F. [Fattuh] took what we wanted and 'Ali broke up the rest, and boiled it, innards and all, in our biggest tanjarah[?]. So we are all mabsutin bil hail! Mashkhur relates when 'Abd al Aziz was killed Sultan was at Jof. He returned (and married Mudi bil gharb) He, Sa'ud and Faysal plotted against Mit'ab. They all rode out to Fitiq (eh) to hunt. The Amir and his brothers and Tellal rode on with 3 sons of Hamud (at their suggestion) to look for a good camping ground. The 3 rode behind and with them one more. Each picked his man and shot. They then brought the slaves and slew the living over the bodies of the dead. Sa'ud (the present Amir) was spared for his mother Mudi's sake (bint Subhan). Mudi bint Hamud, mother of the 3 sons of Abd al Aziz who were killed, was on pilgrimage at Medina [Al Madinah] and died of grief. Sultan and Sa'ud his brother presently fell out. Sultan was of a bad and unpopular nature. They agreed that he should go to Taimah [Tayma'] and be wahil there leaving Sa'ud as shah. He went and with him a company of 800. As soon as he was gone the khazneh dar informed Sa'ud that he had taken all the treasure. Sa'ud summoned the townspeople to the number of 2000 (this must be an exaggeration) rode after him, caught him at Mogug [Mawqaq] and slew him. Then Hamud al Subhan slew Sa'ud, entering the palace and taking him there. Whereat he brought back the little Sa'ud from Medina. Al Bariyyeh mulkna said 'Ali today.