HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 297 



Jidda, and Vembo, and thus intercept the convoys 

 of troops and provisions from Egypt. From this 

 enterprise he was diverted by the revolt of some of 

 his allies, and the defeat of a body of 10,000 troops, 

 which he commanded in person. The town of Rass 

 was the first that offered any serious obstacle to 

 the advance of Ibrahim. It was strongly fortified, 

 and the inhabitants exerted themselves with signal 

 courage. The women in the garrison assisted their 

 brave defenders, and the besiegers were repulsed at 

 all points. Already 3000 Turks had fallen, and the 

 mortality daily increased. Hundreds of the heads 

 of the slaughtered Wahabees were exposed to the 

 view of the inhabitants, in the hope that this hideous 

 spectacle might terrify them into a surrender ; but 

 it only increased their desire of revenge. 



In this perilous situation, and reduced to extreme 

 distress, Ibrahim was compelled to raise the siege, 

 after wasting three months and seventeen days in 

 useless efforts. This, however, was the only reverse 

 which he experienced. As if the fortunes of his 

 father had suddenly returned, he advanced from 

 victory to victory, and in the blood of the heretics 

 speedily washed out the affront which his arms had 

 received under the walls of Rass. Khabara surren- 

 dered after a cannonade of a few hours. Aenezeh 

 followed the example ; the greater part of the troops 

 having fled, without waiting to obtain articles of 

 capitulation. All the towns and tribes of Kasym 

 had now submitted to the Turks ; Abdallah retired 

 from place to place before the invaders, and saw all 

 his strongholds fall into their hands. Boureidah, 

 Shakara, and Dorama, were successively invested, 

 taken possession of, and demolished by the enemy. 

 Shakara was a handsome commercial town, and 

 reckoned the. strongest fortress in the country. 

 The obstinacy which the Turks had experienced at 

 Dorama led to a cruel retaliation. All the inhabit- 

 ants were put to the sword ; the soldiers had orders 



