NOTES TO THE WAHAUBY.

NOTE I.

Only muster seven camel-riders.”—Text, Page 8.

THE Reader may here remark, if he pleases, that the first convert to the Prophet was his wife Kadijea, who thereby obtained the title of Un-ul-Moumeneez, i.e. Mother of the Faithful; and that the first proselyte Abdul Wahaub made, was his father-in-law.

NOTE II.

"Visible Imaum, or spiritual head of the followers of Islam.”— Text, Page 9.

The following, from "Le Tableau Général de l'Empire Ottoman," by D'Ohsson, elucidates this point.

CODE DOGMATIQUE.

34°. Que l'Imam doit être vtsible, qu'il ne doit

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pas se regards du public, ni être l'objet de son attente. "C. L'Imam doit être visible, et doit se montrer au public, soit "dans les temps calmes soit dans les temps orageux, afin de pouvoir "diriger les affaires de l'état, maintenir l'ordre dans l'empire, "prévenir les maux, et dissiper les troubles qui pourraient l'agiter."

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OBSERVATIONS.

"Cet article a principalement pour objet l'opinion des hétérodoxes Sebyeys sur la personne de Mohammed, dit Mehedy, le directeur

céleste, qui est le doraième et dernier Imam de la race d'Aly.

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"Ce Prince n'avait que cinq ans, lorsqu'il herita de l'imameth de ses aieux; à l'age de douze ans, il se perdit dans une grotte à "Semen-rey, qui donna lieu à differentes opinions, les unes plus "enthousiastes que les autres, sur sa nature et son apparition prochaine.

“35°. Que l'Imam doit être issu du sang des Courcyschs, sans cependant que sa naissance soit restreinte à la branche de Hash"chem, ou à celle d'Aly. Il suffit qu'il ne soit pas d'une autre race.

"C. Ce point est appuyé sur cette parole du Prophète :—′ Les "Imams doivent être de la race de Courcyschs; mais il n'est pas "absolument requis qu'ils sont issus de Haschem, ou d'Aly, vû la "légitimité du Khalifat, d'Ebu Bekr, d'Ormar, et d'Osman, qui " étaient issus de Courcyschs par d'autres branches que celle de "Haschem ou d'Aly.

OBSERVATIONS.

"La Maison ottomane n'a pas l'avantage d'être du même sang "comme l'exige la loi canonique, pour avoir droit à l'imameth. Cependant selon les opinions unanimes des Juristes modernes, ce "droit est acquis aux Sultans ottomans par la rénunciation formelle qu'en fit, l'an Heg. 923 A.D. 1517, en faveur de cette maison "souveraine, dans la personne de Sélim I, Mohammed XII, Ebn "Djcafar, dit Mutcwevckil-al-allah. C'est le dernier des Khalifes "abassides, dont le sacerdoce fut détruit du même coup qui ren66 versa la puissance des Mamlukes circasses en Egypte. Sélim I. reçut encore dans la meme année les hommages du Schérif de la Mecque, Mohammed Eb-ul-Berckeath, qui lui fit présenter dans un plat d'argent les clefs du Kaabé, par Ebn Noumy son fils. If we look at the renunciation made by the Khalif to Sélim I descended as he was from the Tartars, and the supposed right it gave him to claim being considered as the visible Imaum, it surely is one of the most extraordinary transfers on record; and if we regard the value to the Turkish Emperors of the acquisition, it must be esteemed as one of the most, if not the most precious ever made: for it is this sacred character, and the privileges belonging to it, which have preserved and maintained that Empire through many a direful storm.

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"Slowly moving Ottoman."-Text, Page 11.

Towards the latter end of the year 1784, Mr. Latouche, who was then chief of the Bussora Factory, left it to return to England. He proceeded from Bussora to Bagdad, in order to take leave of Suleiman Pacha, whom he had been very instrumental in placing in that Pachalik, and with whom he had large accounts to settle. The Pacha was at that time at War with the Chaub Arabs, a tribe which possess a large district, bounded on the North by the Walfar River, and on the South by the Gulf of Persia. The power of the Montefik Arabs was then unbroken, and Twiney, their great and renowned shaik, at the head of the tribe. He had agreed with the Pacha to make a forced march, and take the Chaubs by surprise. His encampment was on the banks of the Shut-al-Arab, and just on the line by which Mr. Latouche was to pass. Twiney then and for some time past, had had it in his power, either to afford great assistance in the expedition of our packets across the desert, or, if so disposed, to throw great impediments in the way of their transit; it was therefore thought right, that Mr. Latouche, previously to leaving the country, should visit him, and make him a small present. It was in the latter end of November, that our visit to the shaik took place, and we took our leave of him just as the sun was setting. His camp consisted of from 1000 to 1200 cavalry, besides necessary attendants.

The instant we were clear of the camp, the tents were struck, and the whole body began to cross the Shut-al-Arab, which is there more than half a mile broad, by swimming. The next morning about nine, Twiney beat up the Chaubs' camp, and completely. routed their force. The march he made was nearer seventy than sixty miles, in a strait line, besides having two large nullahs or creeks to pass à la nage. The Chaubs considered themselves in perfect security, having intelligence that Twiney was engaged to receive Mr. Latouche the preceding evening.

NOTE IV.

"The Shaik of Grain."-Text, Page 12.

The following is taken from "A Journal across the Great Desert, from Aleppo to Bussora, by Colonel James Capper."

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"January 24, 1779. In the morning, Capt. Twyss came, and "told us he should sail for Bussora next day. He had six Eng"lish gentlemen passengers with him, going over the Desert, and " also M. Borel du Bourg, the French officer who had been plun“dered and wounded by the Arabs on the Desert. M. du Bourg, wishing to hear the latest news from Europe, and perhaps also "desirous of conversing with a person who had travelled the same "route as himself, came and spent the evening with me at the broker's house. I told him I was no stranger to what had be"fallen him on the Desert, and easily prevailed on him to give me an account of his adventures.

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"The particulars of the business upon which he was sent, he of course concealed, but in general terms, that soon after the engagement between the two fleets near Brest in July 1778, M. "de Sustine his friend and patron, ordered him to carry dispatches overland to India. He said he left Marseilles on the third of Au"gust, but that owing to the stupidity of the captain of his vessel, "and to contrary winds, he did not arrive at Latichia before the end "of the month; and from thence he proceeded to Aleppo. The "French Consul could not collect more than twenty-five guards to "attend him across the desert, with which, on September 14, he began his journey. He met with no serious molestation until he "was within fifteen days of Bussora, when early one morning he perceived himself followed by a party of about thirty Arabs, "mounted on camels, who soon overtook him. As they ap"proached, he, by his interpreter, desired they would please to ad

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vance or halt, or move to the right or left of him, as he chose to "travel by himself; they answered that they should not interfere "with him; and went forwards at a brisk rate. M. de Bourg's "people then suspected them of some hostile design, and told him "to be on his guard. In the evening, between four and five