79 
god but God," embroidered upon it, in large white 
characters. 
I distinguished perfectly one of Saaoud's sons, a 
boy about seven or eight years old, with long and 
floating hair. He was brown like the rest, and dressed 
in a large white shirt. He was mounted on a superb 
white horse, upon a sort of pannel, without stirrups, 
according to their custom, for they are not acquainted 
with any other kind of saddle, and was escorted by a 
chosen troop. The pannel was covered with a red cloth 
richly embroidered, and spangled with gold stars. 
The mountain and its environs were soon covered 
with Wehhabites. The caravans and detached pilgrims 
afterwards approached it. Notwithstanding the remon- 
strances of my people, I penetrated among the Weh- 
habites to their centre, to be able to obtain a nearer 
view of the Sultan; but several of them with whom I 
conversed assured me that this was impossible, since 
the apprehension of a similar death to that which oc- 
curred to the unfortunate Abdelaaziz, who was assas- 
sinated, had occasioned Saaoud to multiply the number 
of his guard. 
I must allow that I discovered much reason and 
moderation among the Wehhabites to whom I spoke, 
and from whom I obtained the greater part of the in- 
formation which I have given concerning their nation. 
However, notwithstanding this moderation, neither the 
natives of the country nor the pilgrims could hear 
their name pronounced without trembling, and never 
pronounced it themselves but in murmurs. Thus they 
fly from them as much as possible, and shun conver- 
vation with them; in consequence of which I had to 
encounter and overcome the different scruples of my 
