about three hundred on camels proceeding to the north or somewhat to the northwest. It was certain that they were enemies, but it was not known to what tribe they belonged or against whom they were riding. Ḥarb conjectured that they were the Šammar on their way to attack the Beni ʻAṭijje, but ʻAwde declared that they were certainly the Beni Ṣaḫr, who had purposely eluded the Ḥwêṭât, with the intention of attacking them by surprise from the south. Both urged the men who were present to be cautious and alert. ʻAwde despatched twelve horsemen to the south for the purpose of protecting the herds of camels from an unexpected attack. Ḥarb immediately returned to his men to the west in order that they might repel the enemy, should an attempt be made on the flocks returning from the pasture.
The impending danger induced the herdsmen to return with the camels from the pasture at an early hour, and the owners brought the animals to me, offering them for sale. All the camels were exceptionally fat. In the regions of aṭ-Ṭubejḳ, where they had been grazing throughout the rainy season, there had been an abundance of rain during the past two years, in consequence of which they had thriven on luxuriant brushwood and fresh grass. I was told that it is sometimes necessary to bind the camels’ jaws to prevent excessive grazing, as otherwise the surplus fat would cause a breakage of their humps. If the camel fattens too much as a result of good pasturage, the hump increases by about half; the lower part, uniting it with the camel’s back, cannot bear the weight; the hump breaks and hangs down on either side, and the animal perishes.
In the evening we ascertained our geographical latitude.
On Sunday, May 29, 1910, many more camels were offered for sale to me. I selected seven animals whose ages were between four and six years and paid from fifty to sixty-five meǧîdijjât ($45.00 to $58.50) apiece for them. Six of the camels were thorough-breds; the remaining one being a crossbreed, though very strong and yet of slender build. With a hot wire we immediately branded our mark on their left thighs—this being a half-moon between two vertical lines (helâl w meṭraḳên). One of the camels already had eight such branded marks, thus recording eight different owners before myself. The old marks (wsûm) cannot be obliterated,
