In the late eighteenth century, a delegation came from Hail to purchase wheat, consisting of a prince's daughter, her brother, and two slaves.
When they arrived in Salkhad and stopped at one of the threshing floors, the weather changed, heavy rain began to fall, followed by snow. The girl said: "Good men, let us find a place to shelter our heads and the heads of our camels." They had eight camels with them, so they entered the streets of Salkhad as strangers, not knowing anyone or where to go... While walking, they met a man who said to them: "Where to, good people?"
The girl said: "By God, we want to shelter our heads and the heads of our camels."
He said: "Follow me."
They followed him until he reached his house, and it turned out to be Mansour Al-Shoufi. The men entered the guesthouse (madafa), and the girl went into the women's quarters. They secured the camels, and the snow continued to fall for several days.
The guests remained under the hospitality and generosity of their host for more than a week. When the weather cleared, the girl said: "Mansour, we are a delegation from Hail and want wheat; where can you help us get a load for our camels?"
He said to her: "Where would we get it when we sell wheat ourselves?"
She said to him: "And when they knelt down..." So Mansour secured the camel loads of wheat.
He said to her: "The camel loads are ready, may your journey be safe."
She said to him: "Take this, Mansour, a pouch of Arab money; it is not what a Bedouin would call the price of wheat."
He said to her: "By God, it is accepted."
He deceived her and put the pouch into one of the sacks. After they prepared to leave, the girl stood at the gate and said: "Mansour, you must visit us and our people."
He said to her: "In Hail?"
She said: "Yes, by God, in Hail."
He said: "May God make it easy."
She said: "It cannot be; we will not move until you give us your word."
He said to her: "God willing, a day or two after Al-Khader feast, I will be with you."
She said to him: "Farewell."
The guests reached their home in Hail, and their family was on pins and needles due to the delay.
The girl kept praising the kindness and generosity of the hospitality before her family. When they emptied the camel loads, they found the money in one of the sacks. They asked, "Daughter, did you invite Mansour?"
She said: "Yes, by God, father, I invited him, and he promised me that two or three days after Al-Khader feast, he would be with us."
A few days before the feast, Mansour had an accident where he broke his leg, leaving him bedridden, while the people of Hail waited for him and kept watch on the road, hoping he would arrive... Time passed and Mansour did not show up.
The girl said to her slaves: "Good men, go check on Salkhad and see what happened to Mansour; Mansour does not break his word."
The slaves went to Salkhad and found Mansour indeed bedridden.
They said to him: "What is wrong, Mansour? We are waiting for you, and our people are waiting for you."
He said: "Give them my greetings and apologies, and as you can see, this is my situation."
Upon their return, they informed their people of Mansour's condition, and the people of Hail sent this poem to Mansour:
Oh rider of the white mount, adorned with its saddle,
Of a pure-bred lineage, with perfect traits.
If not for the rein, not controlled by the right hand,
They would startle at the flutter of the tassels.
When it sets off from our people, it is like an engine,
They race for it, fearing the horses.
Setting out from Hail before the break of dawn,
By evening in Salkhad, a gathering of all tribes.
May you reach the tribe, you who are the refuge for every traveler,
Guesthouses adorned with white finery.
Messenger, greet the noble Mansour,
How are you after your long nights of vigilance?
What a pity, oh lion of the feeding grounds, you are broken,
And I have much sorrow for your injury.
The sons of Shoufi are all a forest of light,
Quenching their thirst in battles with the sharpest blades.
The wheat is with you, oh refuge for every traveler,
When you close its gates and the guesthouses.
Oh slaughterer of the guest's feast, in Hail and Qarqour,
And the Zahiri ghee poured over the generous meal.
If the sheikhs stumble, they turn to you for counsel,
The offspring of Hamad, what a great lineage.
I have not seen your like, a free bird among falcons,
Your fame is widespread, oh one with perfect traits.
Your fame reached from the land of the river and the valley,
To the land of Ibn Saud and even Taif.
Mansour, if he rode the noble mare, he would leap the wall,
Even if the white, dark-eyed beauties cheered.
I sat for you on the road like a guard,
Looking for you from the tops of the high towers.
The feast has returned with floods and flowers,
And I am waiting for the troops of Nimr and Nayef.
May news of joy come from you,
Putting my mind at ease after such longing.
And we praise the One who is always praised,
Who kept you safe and brought it with grace.
