300 HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 



great mosque, more especially the golden vessels, 

 had been seized by the governor of the town, Has- 

 san el Khalaji, ostensibly for the purpose of relieving 

 the general distress ; but they were finally distri- 

 buted among his own friends. The remainder fell 

 a prey to the Wahabee general, who entered the sa- 

 cred hejra himself, and penetrated behind the cur- 

 tain of the Prophet's tomb, where he laid his sacri- 

 legious hands on every thing valuable that could be 

 found. Among these hoarded treasures the most 

 remarkable is said to have been a brilliant star set in 

 diamonds and pearls, which was suspended directly 

 over the coffin. Around it were deposited many cost- 

 ly vessels set with jewels, earrings, bracelets, neck- 

 laces, and other ornaments, sent as presents from all 

 parts of the empire, but principally brought by the 

 great hajjis who passed through the city. Of this col- 

 lection he sold part to the Sheriff of Mecca, and car- 

 ried the remainder with him to Deraiah, which is said 

 to have consisted chiefly of pearls and corals. The 

 total value of the booty was estimated at more than 

 300,000 dollars (64,687, 10s.) ; though there is good 

 reason for supposing that the donations of the Faith- 

 ful, accumulated there for ages, must have amounted 

 to a much greater sum, had not the governors of the 

 town or the guardians of the sepulchre occasionally 

 relieved their necessities by large drafts from this 

 religious exchequer. Allured by its glittering ap- 

 pearance, the Wahabees attempted to destroy the 

 lofty dome, and throw down the gilded globe and 

 crescent which surmount it ; but the solid structure 

 and the leaden covering rendered this a difficult 

 undertaking ; and as two of the workmen slipped 

 from the roof and were precipitated to the ground, 

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