310 HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 



rice in the breast of Ali. The deliverance of the 

 sepulchres was likely to add a celebrity to his name, 

 that would exalt him far above all the pashas in the 

 Turkish empire. To stimulate his exertions the 

 sultan promised him the pashalic of Damascus for 

 one of his sons, so soon as he should obtain posses- 

 sion of Mecca and Medina. As it was essential to 

 have a sufficient flotilla at his command for the con- 

 veyance of troops and provisions, he caused 28 large 

 and small vessels (from 100 to 250 tons burden) to 

 be built at Suez, which kept about 1000 workmen 

 for three years in constant employment. 



In August 1811, this armada was ready for depar- 

 ture. Toussoun Bey, the second son of the pasha, a 

 youth of eighteen, who had given proofs of extraor- 

 dinary courage in the Mamlouk war, was placed 

 in command. The expedition consisted of two parts, 

 cavalry and infantry; the former amounting to a 

 body of about 800 men, Turks and Bedouins ; and 

 the latter, composed principally of Arnaout soldiers, 

 to the number of 1500 or 2000, under the direction 

 of Saleh Aga and Omar Aga. In October, the fleet 

 reached Yembo, which capitulated after a feeble re- 

 sistance of two days. The town was not garrisoned 

 by Wahabees, but by some troops belonging to the 

 sheriff, who had declared himself a proselyte and 

 an ally of Saoud. 



Several months were consumed in negotiations ; 

 for Ghaleb, when he heard of the formidable arma- 

 ment of Ali Pasha, had thought it advisable to enter 

 into a secret correspondence with him, in which he 

 communicated much information as to the actual 

 state and force of the enemy ; and promised to throw 

 off his allegiance to them on the first appearance of 



