HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 343 



As the season of the year was at the hottest, and 

 disease and devastation doing their work at the 

 same time, the spectacle was truly afflicting. In 

 the space of twenty days Deraiah was completely 

 unpeopled, and not one stone left upon another. 



Before quitting the scene of devastation, Ibrahim 

 traversed the country to ascertain that the extermi- 

 natory decree had been executed against all the 

 fortresses that might serve as future strongholds 

 or rallying-points for the heretics. This done, he 

 repaired to Medina, having already despatched the 

 artillery and part of the troops to that place. Here 

 and at Mecca he returned thanks to the Prophet for 

 this signal triumph over his enemies ; after which 

 he departed with the sickly and exhausted remains 

 of his army for Egypt. 



The disturbances which had broken out in the 

 south of Hejaz were suppressed by Halil Pasha, 

 who had been sent with a reinforcement to Deraiah ; 

 but on finding that the place had surrendered he 

 directed his march on Abu-Arish, of which he took 

 possession ; and in reward for his services was made 

 governor of Mecca. It was at this time that the 

 British authorities in India, in consequence of the 

 depredations committed by theWahabees on the com- 

 merce of the Persian Gulf, made proposals to Ibra- 

 him, through Captain Sadlier, to co-operate with the 

 Egyptian army by sending an expedition against El 

 Katif, which might produce a diversion in favour of 

 the Turks ; but, as the campaign had already been 

 brought to a favourable conclusion, the aid of an 

 English fleet was declined as unnecessary. 



It may appear surprising that a power so widely 

 extended, and so firmly established as that of the 

 Wahabees, should have been so rapidly overthrown. 



