J26 HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 



few hours 5000 of these ghastly trophies were piled 

 up before him. Mere courage was all the Wahabees 

 had to oppose to military skill and experience ; and 

 this noble quality did not forsake them to the last, for 

 even in the most desperate condition they maintained 

 the fight during a considerable time. The Turkish 

 infantry at length turned their position ; when She- 

 riff Rajah, who had just arrived with his corps, like 

 another Blucher fell upon their rear, and compelled 

 them to fly in the utmost disorder. He beset the 

 narrow valley through which they attempted to re- 

 treat, and here 1500 of them were surrounded and 

 cut to pieces. 



The slaughter was prodigious, the whole field 

 being strewed over with headless bodies ; for there 

 were few of the mercenary Turks who did not 

 claim and receive the recompense promised them by 

 their commander-in-chief. About 300 were taken 

 alive at the express desire of Ali, who ordered his 

 troops to offer them quarter, as very few of the 

 Arabs had condescended to beg for mercy. A body 

 still remained on the heights with a view to guard 

 the baggage ; they stood their ground with desperate 

 bravery, but their position was at length carried, 

 and not a man left alive. Tami fled with only 

 a very few followers, as did also Faisal and Gha- 

 lia. The escape of this Amazon was a disappoint- 

 ment to Ali, who was anxious to send her as a tro- 

 phy to Constantinople ; but no proposals could in- 

 duce her to desert the Bedouins, or confide in the 

 offers of the Turks. The whole camp of the Waha- 

 bees, their provisions, ammunition, camels, wo- 

 men, and all that belonged to them, became the prey 

 of the victors. The tent of Faisal, which contained 



