Page 220 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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" This messenger w/>9, howcvor, plundered about two days' distance from Zobair, which
placo lie reached on foot, and he arrived at Baghdad empty-handed on the morning of the
&2nd instant.”
81. In his letter of the 26th April Colonel Herbert said—
" From Nojd I havo obtained no reports which I can submit as authentic, but those that
have reached mo stato that Abdoollah has ngnin visited Riadh, and that, with tho assistance
of bis undo, Abdoollah-ibn-Toorki, ho has collected together about 9,000 men.
ri It is also rumourod that Saood has with him some 70,000 or 80,900 men, and that he
is marching to enoountcr his brother's small force.
“ Should his gathering number even one-half of that stated, he will bo in a position to offer
a formidable resistance to tho Ottomnu troops, who will not number above 8,000 or 10,000
men, while tho nature of the country will <*ffer him very great advantages.”
Rumours from Nejd had reached Baghdad in the beginning of May that of
the 9,000 men oollected by Abdullah, the whole had deserted him on hearing
that the Ottoman troop wero coming into the country at his request. The
feeling of the country was almost cutirely with Saud.
Narrative of the Expeditionary force up to date of landing in Nejd.

82. According to Colonel Herbert’s despatch of the ‘24th March, Midhut
... , _ Pasha appeared at first to hesitate in
supporting the sinking cause of Abdullah,
at the same time that he was inclinod to support him as tho Ruler or the
“ Kaimukam ” recognised by the Porte. Throe day9 lator Colonel Herbert,
in consequence of a rumour that he had heard, sought an interview with the
Pasha, who, he says,
f* informed me that for a long time past lie bad been endeavouring to attract the attention
of the Porto to the movement going on in Nojd and the adjacent provinces, and had at last
obtained instructions to despatch a force to aid Abdoollah, the " Kaimukam ” nominated by
the Porte.
That this force would consist of three or four regiments, with one large gun and four
or five mountain train guns ; and that he had called upou the Arab tribes, tho Montefik
Anezah, Sbammar, and others, to supply contingents.
“ That the troops would bo transported from Buesorah to tho coast in tho corvette Broussa,
the guns of which would he available, aud the two unarmed steamers Nineveh and Asttir.”
83. Midhut Pasha apparently mado light, of this undertaking, and was
evidently not aware of the brave and warlike character of the people against
whom his expedition was being despatched, as lie spoke of them as nomads,
and anticipated that the steam-vessels would ho roleased in a month’s time.
Nor was he deterred by the expense which the Political Agent hinted would
he heavy, while the treasury at Baghdad was in a very low condition. The
Political Agent bad, however, subsequently heard that the Pasha had received
instructions to spare no expense.
The Political Agent further remarked that it might he inexpedient to
denude the country of troops of which there were never more than are absolute­
ly necessary, but this the Pasha answered by saying that he expected reinforce­
ments from Syria; and as previously conjeotured by the Political Agent, the
Yemen troops were to take a part in the enterprise. It had, moreover, come
to the knowledge of the Political Agent that troops were being brought from
Constantinople, and that a vessel was about to proceed to Jeddah for troops.
This report had reached the Political Agent.
u in a manner which forbade his seeking its confirmation from His Excellency.”
84. A remarkable report had reached Midhut Pasha from Abdullah,
which His Excellency believed, to the effect that Saud was supported by the
Biitish Government which had sent seven vessels of war to his aid, with the
view of obtaining ascendanoy in Central Arabia.
Concerning this the Political Agent remarked—
"There can be no doubt that there is a great wish on His Excellency’s part, and probably on
thv part of the Ottoman Government, to obtain command of Bahrein and K&teef, and to