298 HISTORY OP THE WAHABEES. 



survive three days if a single grain of corn were forcibly 

 taken from the holy city. But the displeasure of 

 the Prophet did not extend to those objects of idola- 

 try which offended the religious prejudices of the 

 Wahabees. Above eighty splendid tombs, which co- 

 vered the remains of the descendants of the Apostle, 

 and formed the great ornaments of Mecca, were le- 

 velled with the ground ; nor was the monument of 

 the favourite and venerable Kadi j ah saved. The 

 coffeehouses, or rather shops for spirituous liquors, 

 next felt the desolating zeal of the Reformers. Piles 

 of hookahs and Persian pipes were collected from 

 these haunts and burnt in the presence of Saoud. 

 The use of brandy and tobacco were prohibited 

 under severe penalties; and the inhabitants were 

 obliged to conform, outwardly at least, to the new 

 creed, by abandoning their luxuries and rich dresses, 

 and being more punctual in their devotions. Prayers 

 for the sultan in the grand mosque were ordered to 

 be abolished ; the government was placed in the 

 hands of Abdel Main, the brother of Ghaleb ; and 

 in the following epistle this memorable conquest 

 was communicated to the Ottoman Porte : 



" SAOUD TO SELIM. I entered Mecca on the 4th 

 day of Moharram, in the 1218th year of the Hejira. 

 I kept peace towards the inhabitants. I destroyed 

 all the tombs that were idolatrously worshipped. 

 I abolished the levying of all customs above two 

 and a half per cent. I confirmed the cadi whom 

 you had appointed to govern in the place, agreeably 

 to the commands of Mohammed. I desire, that in 

 the ensuing years you will give orders to the pash 

 of Sham (Damascus) and Mesr (Cairo) not to come 

 accompanied with the mahmal, trumpets, and dr 



