Page 203 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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13. In January 1815 Mahomed Ali inflicted a defeat on the Wahabi
army which was 20,000 strong, and
A.D.1815.
shortly after roturned with his own troops
to Jeddah. Tousoun Pasha continued the campaign, and operating from Medina,
entered the town of El-Itass, the capital of tho district of El-Kaseem; the
army of tho Amir Abdullah-bin-Saud being then at Ancyzah, little further
east. At this juncture Mahomed !Ali, who. had again advanced to Medina,
received tho news of the landing of Napolean from Elba, and immediately
roturned to Egypt. Tousoun, however, was reinforced in El-Kaseem, and
having opened negotiations with the Wahabi Amir, tho latter sent his uncle,
Abdullah-bin-Abdul Aziz, 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 hostages, and oven to present himself
in person at Constantinople if required by the Sultan to do so. Abdullah
further agreed to surrender Der’eyyah to whomsoever tho Sultan should appoint
to bo Governor, and to make restitution of the valuables plundered from
Medina by the Wahabis under Saud. The submission of the Amir on this
occasion was tho more unaccountable that the Egyptian army was at the time
in a oritical position, and by operating on its communications and intercepting
supplies, the Wahabis might have destroyed it. The Amir so far fulfilled the
terms of the treaty as to despatch deputies and hostages to Egypt, but ho
nevertheless proceeded to punish those of the Arab tribes who had joined tho
Turks, and to prepare for tho defence of El-Der’eyyah.

14. The Viceroy, on learning tho terms of the peace concluded by his son,
refused to ratify them, demanding that Abdullah should personally appear
before him in Egypt to answer for his conduct. He also dismissed the Wahabi
Envoys 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.
• 15. On receipt of the Viceroy’s demands, the Wahabi Amir despatched a
reply couched in submissive terms, urging that the spoil t;iken from Medina
by his father was not in his possession, aud saying that Mahommed Ali might
send a representative to govern Nejd, or impose tribute which would be cheerfully
paid ; but he begged to be excused from proceeding to Constantinople. The
Amir also wrote at the same time to Tousoun Pasha askiug him to intercede in
his favor with the Viceroy. The latter refused and returned the presents which
accompanied the Amir’s letter, and announced his intention of sending his son
Ibrahim Pasha with an army to destroy El-Der’eyyah and bring the Amir a
prisoner to Constantinople. Abdullah thereupon despairing of a peaceful
issue prepared to fight.

16. Arrangements having been completed for renewal of the campaign
against the Wahabis, Ibrahim Pasha,
a.d. I8ie. wh0 was selected on account of his ability
to conduct the operations, set out from Egypt in September 1816 at the head of
a considerable force and proceeded to the scone of action. The first encounter
seems to have taken plaoo at El-Ma’wiyah, where Abdullah-bin-Saud
attacked the Egyptian army and suffered
May, A.D. 1817.
a signal defeat. On tins occasion Ibrahim
Pasha put to death all prisoners taken. The Pasha then advanced with 4,000
infantry and 1,200 cavalry, besides contingents of the friendly Arab tribes Benu-
lChulid, Ei-Muteyr, El-Otcybah, El-llarb and El-Suhool against El-llass, which
was held by a Wahabi garrison. Before this town Ibrahim Pasha suffered a
serious check, and after hesiegiug it for three and half months, Laving lost

• Noth.-—The Walisbi forcoi woro oolloctod and marshalled by clans and district* Tho*o from each district,
formed a corps under tbo personal leadership of tho local Amir or Chief. Etch *oldicr brought his own arm* and
furnished hi* own ration*, and tho soldiers undo their own gunpowdor. Foot soldier* and cumol riders received no pay.
The cavalry received furngo aud allowances. A strict diiclpllue w»» maintained.
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