HISTORY OF THE WAHABEES. 345 



to follow the propagation of their doctrines, and that 

 a purer religion would be established in its stead. 

 These regrets appear to be inspired by erroneous 

 conceptions of the principles of this sect, which are 

 nothing else than the gross and primitive supersti- 

 tions of the Koran enforced with greater rigour. 

 Their creed was even more sanguinary and intolerant 

 than that which the first followers of Mohammed 

 offered to the nations on the points of their swords. 

 Their reform extended only to a few absurd or scan- 

 dalous practices, and the more strict injunction of 

 certain moral precepts ; but they left untouched all 

 the impious and heretical dogmas of the Moslem 

 faith. Their chief merit consisted not in their teach- 

 ing their countrymen a more refined and, rational 

 theology, but in suppressing their infidel indif- 

 ference to all religion ; in improving their political 

 condition ; and in subjecting their wild passions to 

 the restraint of law and justice.* 



* It was the opinion of Burckhardt, that the suppression of the 

 Wahabees and the conquest of Nejed are merely temporary ; and 

 that these warlike fanatics, who are dispersed rather than subdued, 

 will take the earliest opportunity to effect the restoration of their 

 empire. This of course must greatly depend on the character of 

 the future pashas of Egypt ; but it is not likely to happen in the 

 reign of Mohammed Ah or his son, to whom the Porte has ceded 

 by a recent treaty (May 1833) the whole of Syria, including Tri- 

 poli, Aleppo, Damascus, and Jerusalem; besides the command of the 

 harbours in the Red Sea, and the sacred privilege of conducting the 

 pilgrim-caravans. Ibrahim, by pushing his victories in the late Sy- 

 rian campaigns almost to the gates of Constantinople, has acquired 

 fresh laurels as a conqueror, and a new title to be Sheik el Haram 

 of Mecca. Under these circumstances the Bedouins, of whom not 

 fewer than 5370 are now serving in the armies of the pasha, can 

 have no immediate prospects of reasserting their independence. The 

 successes of Ibrahim led to a serious conflict, in the month of June 

 1832, between the Turkish and Arab regiments stationed at Mecca. 

 Of the former 1400 were sabred in the streets. The battery that 

 overlooks the city was made to play upon the mosque, where the 

 mutinous Turks had taken refuge, and with such effect, that the 

 walls were pierced, one of the pillars broken down, and several per- 

 sons killed. 



