HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 295 



of march. The soldiers of Bagdad were thus com- 

 pelled to halt ; and for three days the two armies 

 continued within sight of each other,, but without 

 venturing on an attack. A truce for six years was 

 at length concluded, and both parties quietly dis- 

 persed to their homes. 



The failure of this expedition was fatal to the suc- 

 cess of the Turks, as the Wahabees had now learned 

 to despise them. The peace was soon broken ; and, in 

 1801, Saoud at the head of 20,000 men attacked Ker- 

 bela, so famed for the magnificent tomb or mosque of 

 Hossein, which had long attracted the devotion of the 

 Moslem. The town was entered, after a very slight 

 resistance, by means of palrn-trunks placed against 

 the wall, and five thousand persons were massacred. 

 While executing this horrible butchery, a fanatical 

 doctor cried from the top of a tower, " Kill, strangle, 

 all infidels who give companions to God !" In their 

 fury they spared none but old men, women, and 

 children. Their indignation was specially directed 

 against the sepulchre, which was filled with the riches 

 of Turkey and Persia. The cupola with its golden 

 ornaments was thrown down ; and in this act the 

 spoilers were heard to exclaim, " God have mercy 

 upon those who destroyed, and none upon those 

 who built them !" Treasures were found to a vast 

 amount, which had accumulated in proportion to 

 the excessive veneration of the pilgrims. Over the 

 tomb was suspended a huge pearl ; near it were de- 

 posited twenty sabres mounted with precious stones ; 

 these, together with vases, lamps, rubies, emeralds, 

 diamonds, and articles of gold and silver, became the 

 property of Saoud. The houses were stript of their 

 valuable furniture; 4000 Cashmere shawls, 2000 



