GOVERNMENT OF ARABIA. 113 



title the Turkish sovereign obtained a distinction, 

 which secured to him and his descendants the 

 veneration of all Mussulmans of the Sonnee sect. 

 The posterity of this last of the caliphs have sunk 

 to the level of subjects ; but the spiritual influence 

 and supremacy derived from this investiture is by 

 no means a barren privilege, even to the present 

 occupant of the Turkish throne. Partly by gifts, 

 and partly by intimidation, Selim allured many 

 of the Arabian chiefs and commanders to his al- 

 legiance. Even the Sheriff of Mecca delivered to 

 him the keys of the sacred city, and openly acknovi^- 

 ledged his sovereignty. By the influence of this 

 venerated personage, many of the wandering tribes 

 of the Desert were induced voluntarily to submit 

 to his authority, and to deliver hostages for their 

 future obedience. From this circumstance, and 

 from this period, may be traced the duty which has 

 been annually performed by the Turkish sultans, 

 as commanders of the faithful, of conducting the 

 zealous Moslems on their pilgrimage to the sacred 

 territory, — a privilege which was henceforth dele- 

 gated to the Pasha of Damascus, and to whom it 

 still belongs. 



The conquests of Selim left his son, Solyman I., 

 little to achieve in Asia, except to preserve and con- 

 solidate the vast empire which he had acquired. In 

 Arabia this sultan, who appears to have carried the^ 

 Ottoman name to the highest pitch of glory, em- 

 ployed his arms with great success. From Suez to 

 Aden the whole coasts acknowledged his power. 

 Penetrating inland, he obtained possession of Yemen, 

 and even carried his victories into some of the 

 mountainous regions beyond its northern frontier ; 

 so that the peninsvila became almost entirely an 

 appendage of the Turkish empire, governed by 

 pashas or beglerbegs appointed by the Porte. 



The reigns of Achmet II. and Mustapha II. (A. D. 

 1696) were disturbed by revolts of the Arab tribes, 



K2 



