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« Sflood is still roporto <o lie in possession of Riadh and Ncjd Proper. The whereabouts
of Abdoollah is not distinctly known, but he is said to bo not far from the capiial, probably at
Kbarij, to the south, and it is said that the inhabitants of the country aro endeavouring to
bring about a reconciliation botween tho brothers with the view to their combining to get rid
of tho Ottomau troops.
«' It is to bo apprebonded that tho position of theso last is very precarious.0
106. Oolonol Polly’s Moonsheo, writing in July, reported Abdullah to bo
two days’ march from lliadh:—
,f Saood,” ho said, “ has no money and has expenses. Abdoollah bin Feysul is now
located at a placo called Akhromch, two days’ journoy from Riadh, and has followe rs from the
Nejd country, nnd is also in want of money. Ho was originally anxious to be friends with
his brother Saood ; but when letters from the parts of Bahrein informed him that tho Turkish
army intended to establish him as Imam, he would not consent, and is waiting to see what
turn affairs will take, but was uuablo to get across to tho Turks on account of the insecurity
of the roads.1’ He added: “Furcok Pasha is now at Lahsa, and is unable to move further on
account of tho siokness, heat, and hot winds.
u It is said that if the people of Nojcl join together, no one will be nblo to subdue them.
But now they aro separated, some following Saood and some Abdoollah, and that to a certainly
their enemies will subdue them.
** At heart the people of Ncjd do not like the sons of Feysul on account of their oppres­
sion and unjust taxes, and on this account they arc now ruined.
"Ibrahim Beg has a following of 800 Turks in Katif, and has ordered the streets to be
swept and watered. lie has ordered bazaars to bo establish°d out of the fort. About 70
prostitutes from Baghdad were brought to Katif iu the Snipe, nnd SO wine sellers, and their
business is nourishing.
“ People say if the Nnjdres be certain of these proceedings, they may join together and
fight the Turks, as the Wahabees do not consent to such acts.
11 Some of the merchants of Katif have communicated these proceedings to tho people
of Nejd, and they will know that the Turks are of another creed. They are now assured
that the intention of the Turks is to place Abdoollah bin Feysal as their Imam, and that their
religion will rule as before.”
167. The position of affairs in the beginning of August is thus described
by Colonel Pelly in his letter of the 14th of that month :—
a Ut.—The Turkish force is in occupation of the fertile district and ports of Lahsa; and the
question is being discussed between the Commander of the forces and the Turkish authorities
as to whether the Expedition should for tho present remain at Lahsa, or whether constituting
Lahsa an intermediate baso of operations, the Expedition should advance into Nejd.
“2nd.—The Commander of the forces would seem to be in favour of halting where he is
at all events, until the weather cools and rain falls. The Turkish authorities, on the other
hand, would seem to be urging an advance, and contemplating an invasion of Nejd by a com­
bined movement of the forces now in occupation of portions of the Arabian Littorals of the
Persian Gulf and Red Sea. Should this allpged combined operation be successfully carried into
effect it might have important results, and would seem to indicate an intention permanently to
occupy Peninsular Arabia as a Turkish province.
"3rd.—The Expedition appears to intend strengthening its sea base by the erection of forts
at Ojair and in the neighbourhood of Katif, while the line of communication between those
ports and Lahsa is to be secured by fortified posts at every caravan stage.
“ 4}^’—Arrangements appear to have been made for the occupation of Gwattur. But
this region continues as yet in a distracted stato, pressed on by tho Turks, and harassed by the
Bedouins, who appear, at the instigation of Saood bin Feysul, to be marauding or aggressing
all along the southern flank of the Turkish lino of communication.
if$tk.—-The respective positions of the contending brothers, Abdoollah and Saood bin
Feysul, do not seem to bo certainly known. Neither seem to bo in great force, while tue
tribes and the inhabitants of the Capital Riadh appear to bo awaiting either the imprisonment
or death of one of the aspirants.”
168. On the 23th August, Colonel Polly reported two fights between Ab­
dullah and Baud. The latter was said to have boon killed1 and Baud wounded.
The Turkish Commander was becoming uneasy about his communication wit
the coast and was calling for roinforcemcnts, two or three hundred men hod

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