336 HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 



Egypt had subsided, he ordered a powerful expedi- 

 tion to be fitted out for Hejaz, which he intrusted 

 to the command of his adopted son Ibrahim, a prince 

 of eminent bravery, and who had already distin- 

 guished himself in suppressing the mutinous Mam- 

 louks. Six months were devoted to the transport of 

 military stores. In September 1816, the general left 

 Cairo. He was accompanied by about 2000 in- 

 fantry, who went by Cosseir to Yembo, and 1500 

 Libyan Bedouin horsemen, who proceeded by land. 

 In his train were some French officers, and the 

 Arab hero Sheik Rajah, who had been sent to 

 Egypt in chains, but was now released, as his ser- 

 vices might prove useful to the expedition. His 

 orders were to attack Deraiah, by way of Medina 

 and Kasym. In ten days after his landing he reach- 

 ed the city of the Prophet. Here he took a vow 

 never to sheath his sword, nor to drink wine or 

 other forbidden liquor, until he had entirely extir- 

 pated the enemies of his religion. Following the 

 route of Toussoun, he took up his position at Hena- 

 kiah, where several weeks were spent in skirmish- 

 ing and plundering. Some of the neighbouring 

 chiefs joined his ranks, among whom was Ghanem, 

 sheik of the Harbs, who brought over 500 of his 

 tribe. Nothing could have been more seasonable 

 than such reinforcements, as his troops were suffer- 

 ing from epidemic diseases and the harassing war- 

 fare of the desert ; for the Arabs found means to 

 steal at night into the Turkish camp, where they 

 killed or cut the legs of their horses and camels. 



Abdallah was encamped in the vicinity of Aenezeh. 

 He had conceived the bold project of marching di- 

 rectly on Medina, at the head of 30,000 men j while 



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