HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 291 



sole guide was the Koran and the orthodox tradi- 

 tions j and his efforts were entirely directed to re- 

 move corruptions and abuses, and restore the faith 

 of Islam to its original purity. Whether this great 

 reformer,, when he preached to his countrymen in 

 the villages of Nejed, had any idea of establishing a 

 new dynasty to reign over the proselytes of Arabia 

 is much to be doubted. Neither his birth, nor the 

 strength of his tribe, could authorize him in enter- 

 taining such a design. But it cannot be denied that 

 his doctrines had a favourable effect on the people, 

 by suppressing the infidel indifference which uni- 

 versally prevailed, and which has generally a more 

 baneful effect on the morals of a nation than the de- 

 cided 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 

 compelled, 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 AH belonging to the 

 Aeneze tribe. Here he continued to inculcate his 

 doctrines, which soon gained credit enough to encour- 

 age the extension of his project, and enable him to 

 employ force to subdue the refractory. Of the nu- 

 merous hordes scattered over the central wastes, some 

 offered their voluntary submission, while others com- 



