| Away to the north the Shammar tribes had united under one Mohamed ibn Rashid, a capable, ambitious man, who had made his capital in the town of Hail and who coveted Riad and the other rich villages of Nejd• | He was a freebooter and a destroyer |
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| The country round the town of Riad itself was full of raiding parties of uncontrolled bedouin | He had no patience and no ability to handle the tribesmen |
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