172 HEJAZ. 



ries at Jidda, which he let out to foreigners. Burck- 

 hardt calculates the annual receipts of Ghaleb, 

 during the plenitude of his power, to have amounted 

 to about 350,000/. sterling ; but when the Wahabees 

 occupied Hejaz, it probably did not exceed half that 

 sum. The maintenance of his household did not 

 perhaps require more than 20,000/. per annum. 

 Tue small force he kept up in time of peace did 

 not exceed 500 men, whose pay was from eight to 

 twelve dollars per month. During war, the increase 

 of his army to 3000 or 4000 troops rendered some 

 additional expense necessary ; but there is reason 

 to conclude, that never at any period of his power 

 did this governor live up to the full amount of his 

 income. The reign of this sheriff has acquired con- 

 siderable importance in Europe from its connexion 

 with the history of the Wahabees ; and his name 

 will again be necessarily introduced in our notice of 

 these fanatical warriors. 



Of the sheriff families at Mecca, who may be re- 

 garded as the former Mamlouks or janizaries of 

 Arabia, only a small number (Burckhardt enumerates 

 twelve) now remain, who serve as auxiliaries under 

 their respective chiefs, either in the armies of their 

 friends or their enemies. Their great versatility 

 of character and conduct has destroyed their credit 

 for honesty ; and this popular distrust is increased 

 by the suspicion that they belong to the heterodox 

 sect of the Zaidites ; while the Meccawees follow 

 the doctrines of Shafei. In personal appearance 

 and gallant bearing they surpass most other tribes 

 of their countrymen. Those whom Burckhardt had 

 an opportunity of seeing were distinguished by fine 

 manly countenances, strongly expressive of noble 

 extraction ; they had all the bold and frank manners 

 of the Bedouins ; were fond of popularity ; and en- 

 dowed with an innate pride which, in their own 

 eyes, set them far above the Sultan of Constantino- 

 ple. They form a distinct class, into which no for- 

 eigners are admitted. They are spread over several 



