HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES, 299 



were lavishly distributed ; and the women braved the 

 fire of the besiep-ers to fetch water to the wounded. 

 Ibrahim meanwhile made little prog-ress, and the 

 accidental explosion of a magazine threatened to 

 defeat entirely the object of the expedition. More 

 than 200 barrels of gunpowder, and as many loaded 

 shells, blew up in the midst of his camp ; thus leav- 

 ing him almost destitute of ammunition, and sur- 

 rounded with enemies in the heart of a desert 500 

 leagues from Egypt. No resource remained for 

 the Turks but their courage and their sabres until 

 fresh supplies were obtained from Medina and the 

 neighbouring garrisons. The governors of Bagdad 

 and Bussora sent large caravans with provisions, 

 while recruits with ammunition and artillery-stores 

 arrived in successive detachments from Cairo. The 

 combat was renewed ; and to inspirit the languid 

 soldier, fifty piastres were promised for every head 

 or pair of ears he should bring to his commander. 



Abdallah now found that his capital could no 

 longer be defended. All his sorties had been attended 

 with loss ; two of his sons were taken prisoners, 

 and one of them put to death. The fortresses on the 

 adjoining heights, in the gardens, and on the banks 

 of the dry bed of the river, had fallen into the hands 

 of the assailants. Three of the five quarters of the 

 city made a conditional surrender, and the rest were 

 cut off from communicating with the villages that 

 supplied them with provisions. In this forlorn po- 

 sition, Abdallah, with his guard of 400 black slaves, 

 still maintained a brave resistance in his palace, 

 determined to sacrifice his life on the ruins of his 

 expiring country ; but he was at length compelled, 

 by the impatient clamours of the citizens, to hoist a 

 flag of truce and demand a conference, which was 

 immediately granted. With a retinue of 200 men, 

 he repaired to the tent of Ibrahim, and offered terms 

 of surrender, which the pasha consented to accept ; 

 at the same time acquainting him, that in compliance 



