HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 287 



holds, the pasha wheeled round with his cavalry, 

 outflanked the pursuers, and, after a hot engagement 

 of five hours, gained a decisive victory. 



In this action the pasha fought in person at the 

 moment when he ordered his cavalry to wheel and 

 repel their pursuers. In order to keep alive the 

 spirit of resistance, he dismounted, commanded his 

 carpet to be spread on a little level spot in presence 

 of the whole line, and seating himself upon it, 

 he called for his pipe, declaring that from that 

 ground he would not move, but there await victory 

 or death as fate might determine. A reward of six 

 dollars was proclaimed to every soldier who should 

 present him with the head of an enemy ; and in a 

 few hours 5000 of these ghastly trophies were piled 

 up before him. Mere courage was all the Wahabees 

 had to oppose to military skill and experience ; and 

 this noble quality did not forsake them to the last, for 

 even in the most desperate condition they maintained 

 the fight during a considerable time. The Turkish 

 infantry at length turned their position ; when She- 

 riff Rajah, who had just arrived with his corps, like 

 another Blucher, fell upon their rear, and compelled 

 them to fly in the utmost disorder. He beset the 

 narrow valley through which they attempted to re- 

 treat, and here 1500 of them were surrounded and 

 cut to pieces. 



The slaughter was prodigious, the whole field 

 being strewed over with headless bodies ; for there 

 were few of the mercenary Turks who did not 

 claim and receive the recompense promised them by 

 their commander-in-chief. About 300 were taken 

 alive at the express desire of Ali, who ordered his 

 troops to offer them quarter, as very few of the 

 A rabs had condescended to beg for mercy, A body 

 still remained on the heights with a view to guard 

 the baggage ; they stood their ground with desperate 

 bravery, but their position was at length carried, 

 and not a man left alive. Tami fled with only a 



