Page 54 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883
P. 54

42    ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THIS PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
                              Tousoun Pasha again advanced and attacked Tarabah, but failed, and
                          bis force retreated with some loss to Tayif. Mohammed ’Ali then pre­
                          pared to renew the campaign. Such was the position of affaire when
                          news was  received of the death of the Amir Su’ood-bin-’Abdul 'Azeez,
                          which occurred at El-Der’cyyah on the I7fh of April 18Id, he having
                          attained the age of sixty-eight years.
                              'Abdullah, the eldest son of Su’ood, bad been elected to the succession
                                                       during his father’s lifetime, and, on the
                                    A.D. 1814.
                                                       death of the latter, took his place as
                                'Abdnllah-bin-Su’ood.  Chief of the Wahabccs without opposi­
                                                       tion.
                              In January 1815 Mohammed 'Ali inflicted a defeat on the Wahabcc
                                                       army which was 20,000* strong, and
                                    A.D. 1815.
                                                       shortly after returned with bis own
                          troops to Jiddah. Tousoun Pasha continued the campaign, and operating
                          from Medina, entered the town of El-Rass, the capital of the district of
                          El-Kascein ; the army of the Amir 'Abdullab-bin-Su'ood being then at
                          'Ancyzab, little further east. At this juncture Mohammed 'Ali, who had
                          again advanced to Medina, received the news of the landing of Napolean
                          from Elba, and immediately returned to Egypt. Tousouu, however, was
                          reinforced in El-Kasccm, and having opened negotiations with the
                          "Wahaboe Amir, the latter sent his uncle, 'Abdullah-bin-'Abdul 'Azcez, to
                          the Egyptian camp to conclude a peace which was effected, the terms
                          being on the basis of the Amir’s submission to the Sultan of Turkey,
                          and engagement to give homages, ar.d even to present himself in person
                          at Constantinople if require! by the Sultan to do so. 'Abdullah further
                          agreed to surrender Der’evyah to whomsoever the Sultan should appoint
                          to be Governor, and to make restitution of the valuables plundered from
                          Medina by the Wahabccs under Su’ood. The submission of the Amir
                          on this occasion was the more uuaccountable that the Egyptian army
                          was at the time in a critical position, and by operating on its communi­
                          cations and intercepting supplies, the Wahabees might liave destroyed
                          it. The Amir so far fulfilled the terras of the treaty as to despatch
                          deputies and hostages to Egypt, but he nevertheless proceeded to punish
                                                      those of the Arab tribes who bad joined
                                   [Mengin.]          the Turks, and to prepare for the defence
                                                      of El-Der'eyyah.
                              The Viceroy, on learning the terms of the peace concluded by
                          his son, refused to ratify them, demanding that 'Abdullah should person­
                          ally appear before him in Egypt to answer for his conduct. He also
                          dismisjid the Wahabee Euvoys and sent further reinforcements to
                          Arabia. About the same time Tousoun Pasha, hearing of the occurrence
                          of a revolution in Egypt, hastened to return there, leaving garrisons in
                          Medina and other towns.


                             • Note.-The Wahahee force* were col lock'd and marshalled be clans and district*.
                          Tbov from ttcb district formed a rorpa under the personal leadership of tho local Amif
                          or Chief. Each soldier brought bit own anni and furnitbed hit own rations and th#
                          •oldier* made their own gunpowder. Foot toldier* mod eamrl ridert rcceired no paj. Tb*
                          csrulr/ received forage and allowances. A strict discipline was maintained.
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