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to wrest the hitherto undisputed pro-eminence from the chiofs of Beit Ali, and
his numerous and powerful relatives lent their aid to his ondeayour. In Hail
itself Abdullah’s party soon became tho stronger, but the neighbouring village
of Kefar, then almost as strong and populous as Hail, held to Beit Ali.
192. Tho struggle then began, and was unfavourable to Abdullah, who
was driven into cxilo about 1818 or 1820. Accompanied by a band of his
relatives, he took the road of the Jof, and, failing to find assistance, passed on
tho Wadi Sirhan. Here, however, the fugitives were attacked by a strong
party of Aneyza Bedouins, the hereditary enemies of the Beni Shammar. After
a desperate struggle all Abdullah’s companions were slain, and he himself left
for dead. Tradition ascribes his surviving to the miraculous aid of insects and
birds, and to the assistance of a passing caravan, by whom Abdullah was taken
on to Damascus, and tended until complete recovery. Returning then to
Arabia, he received a ready wolcome from Turki-ibn Saud, the Wahabi Amir,
and became one of his principal generals. Practically tho leader of the expe­
dition sent in 1831 against Uasa under Feysal. it was he who induced the
Prince to march straight back upon Riadh as soon as the nows of Turki’s murder
and Mesharis usurpation reached the frout.
193. It wa9, moreovor, Abdullah who, on the twenty-first day of the
siege of the palace of Riadh, in which Meshari was entrenched, slipped out by
night with two trusty kinsmen of the Shammar, induced a friendly palace
retainer to draw them up by repes through one of the windows, penetrated to
Meshari’s sleeping apartment, and killed the usurper after a protracted strug­
gle, in which Abdullah’s two comrades lost their lives. In gratitude for these
services, Feysal named him absolute Governor of Shammar Province—in
Doughty’s words, to be his constable of the western marches of Nejd—to govern
Aneyza and its southern tribes, with right of succession, and supplied him with
troops and all means for the establishment of his rule.
194. Abdullah then returned to Hail, and driving out tho rival family
of Beit Ali, became supreme ruler. Ilis brother Obeid pursued the fugitives
into Kasim, and there ravaged the country, and cut off the Beit Ali root and
branoh.
195. Meanwhile, Abdullah consolidated his power in the Jebel Shammar,
beyond which, however, his sway did not extend. All his life-time he paid
tribute to Feysal, and moreover, caused the Wahabi tenots to be recognised
as tbe official faith of the State, in spite of tho unpopularity of this measure,
pot apparently from religious conviction, but out of policy. He diod in 1844
or 1845 while engaged in rebuilding Hail, and left three sons, Tilal, Mutaab,
.'and Mahomed, besides bis surviving brother, Obeid, Tilal's popularity insured
his succession, and he seems to have been a pattern ruler. Besides continuing
his father’s improvements at Hail, ho sent his unole, Obeid, on an expedi­
tion against Khcibar, which was conquered, and fell under the Shammar
rule.
196. Not long after, Kasim, weary of Wahabi tyranny, annexed itself to
the 8hammar kingdom. Tilal apologized to Feysal, who felt too weak to pro­
test against this aggrandizement of his powerful vassal at his expense, and was
obliged to acquiesce.
197. Meanwhile, Tilal himself led a successful foray against Toima and
the neighbourhood, and in 1865 conquered tho Jof and dostroyed tho family
of Beit Haboub, hitherto supreme there. Every-where he subjugated tne
Bedouins. By a wise tolerance ho induced Shiahs and other heretics to settle
at Hail, and suffered much relaxation of the strict Wahabi doctrines, in spite
of the protestations of Feysal, still nominally his overlord, and one whoso
daughter was married to him. He had also to preserve appearances with tbe
Sultan, whoso name looms largo in the Friday prayers at Hail, but who derives
no other benefit from tho province.
198. Tilal still preserved the appearance of being a vassal of Ibn Saud,
and repaired every year to Riadh with a present of horses. Returning in 1867
he fell sick, and sent eventually to Baghdad for a Persian doctor, who told tho

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