296 HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 



from Oman joined his standard, and the Arabs of 

 Yemen sent him 2000 combatants. 



The pasha on his side had displayed equal activity. 

 When the alarm of invasion and revolt in Egypt had 

 subsided, he ordered a powerful expedition to be 

 fitted out for Hejaz, which he intrusted to the com- 

 mand of his adopted son Ibrahim, a prince of emi- 

 nent bravery, and who had already distinguished 

 himself in suppressing the mutinous Mamlouks. 

 Six months were devoted to the transport of mili- 

 tary stores. In September, 1816, the general left 

 Cairo. He was accompanied by about 2000 infantry, 

 who went by Cossier to Yembo, and 1500 Libyan 

 Bedouin hersemen, who proceeded by land. In his 

 train were some French officers, and the Arab hero 

 Sheik Rajah, who had been sent to Egypt in chains, 

 but was now released, as his services might prove 

 useful to the expedition. His orders were to attack 

 Deraiah, by way of Medina and Kasym. In ten 

 days after his landing he reached the city of the 

 Prophet. Here he took a vow never to sheath his 

 sword, nor to drink wine or other forbidden liquor, 

 until he had entirely extirpated the enemies of his 

 religion. Following the route of Toussoun, he took 

 up his position at Henakiah, where several weeks 

 were spent in skirmishing and plundering. Some 

 of the neighbouring chiefs joined his ranks, among 

 whom was Ghanem, sheik of the Harbs, who brought 

 over 500 of his tribe. Nothing could have been 

 more seasonable than such reinforcements, as his 

 troops were suffering from epidemic diseases and 

 the harassing warfare of the desert ; for the Arabs 

 found means to steal at night into the Turkish camp, 

 where they killed or cut the legs of their horses and 

 camels. 



Abdallah was encamped in the vicinity of Aenezeh. 

 He had conceived the bold project of marching 

 directly on Medina, at the head of 30,000 men ; while 

 his brother Faisal should make a descent on Mecca, 



