HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 257 



baneful effect on the morals of a nation than the 

 decided acknowledgment even of a false religion. 



To trace the history of this sect, from its origin 

 to the vast ascendency which it gained in Arabia, 

 were merely to record events similar to those which 

 daily occur in the feudal wars of the desert. It was 

 about the year 1746, when Abdel Wahab was com- 

 pelled, by order of the governor of El Hassa, to 

 quit his native village, where for eight years, in the 

 capacity of sheik, he had peaceably disseminated his 

 opinions, and made converts of several neighbouring 

 chiefs. Having escaped the poniard of an assassin, 

 he repaired to Deraiah, and obtained a friendly asy- 

 lum from Mohammed ibn Saoud, sheik of the Beni 

 Mokren, a branch of the Wold Ali belonging to the 

 Aeneze tribe. Here he continued to inculcate his 

 doctrines, which soon gained credit enough to en- 

 courage the extension of his project, and enable him 

 to employ force to subdue the refractory. Of the 

 numerous hordes scattered over the central wastes, 

 some offered their voluntary submission,while others 

 combined against him, and refused to acknowledge 

 either his temporal or spiritual authority. To in- 

 crease the activity of the new missionaries, they 

 were diligently instructed in regard to the merit of 

 using arms to convince heretics and infidels. The 

 temptations of plunder were added to the stimulants 

 of religious zeal ; and a share of the booty taken in 

 battle was always distributed among the conquerors, 

 according to the strict law of the Koran. 



It does not appear that the great founder of the 

 sect himself assumed any other character than that 

 of their apostle or ecclesiastical ruler. His constant 

 residence was at Deraiah until his death in 1787, 

 when he had reached the advanced age of 95, He 

 possessed in a high degree the art of persuasion, 

 and is said to have captivated all hearts by his elo- 

 quence. Equally distinguished as an able politician 

 and an intrepid warrior, he maintained to the last 



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