Page 56 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

\\ ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

December 1817. In the following month the Turkish army appeared
before Shakrah, which was regularly approached under the direction of a
French Engineer, M. Vaissicre, and capitulated on the 2nd of January
1818. The lives of the garrison were
A.D. 1818.
spared, but they were deprived of their
arms, and had to engage not to serve again under the Wahfibee Amir.
Some time after, when EI-Der'cyyah had fallen, Ibrahim Pasha caused
the fortifications of Shakrah to be demolished, and when seen by Captain
Sadleir the place was in ruins.
'Abdullah-bin-Su’ood liad now retreated to El-Der’eyyah, and before
following him up to the capital, Ibrahim Pasha judged it advisable to
turn aside from the direct route to take the town of Dhorama. At
that place he encountered a spirited resistance, several of his men being
killed. In revenge for this the male inhabitants were put to the sword,
the town pillaged and destroyed, and the women given up to the
brutality of the Turkish soldiery. Only the Governor and his guard
who had shut themselves in a citadel were suffered to escape with their
lives.
Detained by rains, it was March before Ibrahim Pasha advanced on
El-Der'eyyah, which town he invested in April with a force of 5,500 horse
and foot, and twelve pieces of artillery, including two mortars and two
howitzers. Shortly after, reinforcements and convoys of supplies reached
the Turkish camp from Medina and Busrali. The siege operations were for
some time conducted without any success to the Turkish arms, and in the
latter part of the month of May an explosion having occurred by which
the Pasha lost all his spare ammunition, his position became extremely
critical. Indeed the indomitable courage and good example of Ibrahim
personalty alone saved the army from disaster. The troops suffered much
from dysentery and ophthalmia, and the Wababces thought to overwhelm
the besiegers by a sortie in force. The attack was, however, repulsed, and
the opportunity lost to the besieged; for soon after the engagement
caravans with fresh supplies of ammunition and provisions reached the
Egyptian camp, and later reinforcements of infantry and cavalry joined.
News was also received of the approach of Khaleel Pasha from Egypt with
three thousand fresh troops. Early in September the Amir sent a flag
of truce to request an audience of the Pasha. This was accorded, and the
Wahabee Chief was kindly received, but was informed that the first and
indispensable condition of peace was the attendance of 'Abdullah in person
at Cairo. The Amir asked twenty-four hours for reflection, which delay
was granted, and at the expiration of the time he returned to the Pasha's
camp and intimated his willingness to fulfil the condition imposed,
provided Ibrahim would guarantee that his life would be spared.
Ibrahim Pasba replied that he had no authority himself to bind the Sultan
and the Viceroy on that point, but that he thought both were too
generous to put him to death. 'Abdullah then pleaded for his family and
prayed that El-DeFeyyah and his adherents should be spared. These terms
were, conceded and a peace concluded. The ill-starred Amir at once set
out on his journey under a strong escort, and on reaebiug Cairo was cour­
teously received by Mohammed *Ali Pasha, who forwarded him on to
Constantinople with a strong appeal for his pardon. The Government
of the Porte was, however, implacable; 'Abdullah-bin-Su'ood was paraded