Faysal Ibn Sha’lan and the pursuit on the Kuhaylah Rodaniyah mare, 1870.

A fantastic account and a funny story of a botched ghazu, from Rehan Ud Din Baber’s Facebook page, that treasure trove. “On occasions which a resident in the country and one on good terms with the Sheikhs can alone take advantage of, the most valuable horses and mares are sometimes picked up, in almost peculiar manner. A friend of mine secured a splendid Keheilen er Rodan mare of remarkable beauty, symmetry and speed, for £ 270, under the following circumstances which would supply materials for a sensational novel. This mare belonged to Faissal Ibn Shalan Sheik of the Roala tribe who had refused enormous offers for her. Five men of the Mowali on plunder intent, turned out on the picked mares of the tribe to steal camels from the Roala. They drove off some the first night, and, emboldened by their success, returned to poach again. The Roala were in waiting and attacked these freebooters. The Mowali, considering discretion the better part of valour, beat a hasty retreat, trusting to the speed of their mares. In the hot pursuit fifty Roalas were left behind, but two, better mounted than their comrades, continued it for ten hours. The Mowalis escaped with…