GOVERNMENT OF THE SHERIFFS. 195 



the customs paid at Jidda and Yembo, which were 

 much increased by Ghaleb, who had also engrossed 

 a large share of the commerce to himself, having 

 eighty dows constantly engaged in the coffee-trade. 

 He also levied a tax upon all cattle and provisions, 

 carried either to the coast for exportation, or into the 

 interior of the country. The other branches of his 

 revenues were the profits realized from the sale of 

 provisions at Mecca j a capitation-tax on all Persian 

 hajjis; presents, both gratuitous and compulsory ; 

 part of the money sent from Constantinople for the 

 use of the Temple; and rents to a considerable 

 amount from landed property, consisting of gardens 

 around Ta'if, and plantations in many of the neigh- 

 bouring wadis ; besides houses and caravansaries at 

 Jidda, which he let out to foreigners. Burckhardt 

 calculates the annual receipts of Ghaleb, during the 

 plenitude of his power, to have amounted to about 

 350,000 sterling ; but when the Wahabees occu- 

 pied Hejaz, it probably did not exceed half that 

 sum. The maintenance of his household did not 

 perhaps require more than 20,000 per annum. 

 The 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 in- 

 crease of his army to 3000 or 4000 troops rendered 

 some additional expense necessary ; but there is rea- 

 son 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. 



