286 HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES 



position in their rear, which would enable them to 

 interrupt the communication between Kolach and 

 Ta'if. Bissei is a level spot of ground, encircled by 

 a natural rampart of hills, through which are seve- 

 ral narrow passes or entrances. On these emi- 

 nences the Wahabees were posted, while the area 

 within contained their stores and ammunition, be- 

 sides a great quantity of private property. Their 

 whole force was reckoned at 25,000 infantry, ac- 

 companied by 5000 camels ; but they had few cav- 

 alry, and were entirely destitute of artillery. Among 

 the distinguished leaders of this army were Faisal, 

 brother of Abdallah, the renowned heroine Ghalia, 

 the Sheik Tami, with all the chiefs of the Yemen 

 mountains, and some whose dwellings were as far 

 eastward as the borders of Hadramaut. 



When the pasha's cavalry approached they wisely 

 remained on their hills, and repulsed with some loss 

 an attack made on a valley where the Turks wished 

 to plant one of their fieldpieces. A whole day was 

 consumed in fruitless attempts ; and such was the 

 terror inflicted by the lances of the Wahabees, that 

 numbers deserted the ranks and fled to Mecca, where 

 they spread the alarming news of the pasha's death, 

 and the total defeat of the expedition. Finding he 

 could have no chance of success so long as the 

 enemy kept the mountains, the policy of Ali was to 

 decoy them into the plain. He sent during the 

 night for reinforcements from Kolach, and early 

 next morning renewed the assault ; commanding 

 the ofl[icers to advance with their columns closer to 

 the enemy's position, and after the first fire, to re- 

 treat in seeming disorder. The stratagem had the 

 desired eff"ect. The Arabs, seeing their adversa- 

 ries fly, thought they were panic-struck, and that 

 the fortunate moment for completely crushing them 

 had arrived. They imprudently abandoned the steeps 

 and gave chase over the plain ; and when they had 

 advanced to a sufficient distance from their strong- 



