The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-23

oSaranCc or mort delay In the execution OF ms
project, and pronifc of not n,o,ening the pill
srims ON their quitting the place.
The fhccefs of this negotiation is attributed
by many to the cafual circumstance of Ahdalla
Paiha having lait year, from fome political mo-
tive, embraced liz iecret the tenets of the new
Wahabian Schfm, who thus by well timed
policy fucceeded in providing for the fafety of
10000 Munehnen, who, doubtleis but for his
protection would have been driven by Ell Waha-
bi to the cruel extremity of reaouncins the fun
damental dogmas of their faith, or iufering
death &c the price of their conitancy.
On the third day fubieauent to the caravans
departure out OF Mecca toine fugitives overlook
the pilgrims, and related, as eye witnelies, that
Ell Wahabi bad entered Mecca the day following
that of their quitting it ; had ieized and put TO
death Murib Efsndi inveted as he was with TIE
religious character of Chief Judge of Mecca
dignity of the highet order conferred, ard main
tanned by the Porte and that after the execute
on of the Mutt and fome other officers of infe-
nor note, he had proceeded to pull down all the
buildings, and convey away or denloliih every
effect confecrated to religious ufes.
The Sheriff of Mecca, it is faid fucceeded in
fains hnntef by flying the place on the Waha-
bies entrance into it.
After the conqueit of Mecca, which is rich
city, il is fuppoied the Wahabi will immediately
turn his arms towards Medina, where there is a
depot of articles of incalculable value, which the
Superstition of ages had offered up at the ihrne
OF Mahomed : but Medina, although FINAL COM
paratively with Mecca, has iome notifications,
and the inhabitants, in contemplation of the ap-
preaching danger, have declared their determi-
nation to exert themfelves in defence of the re-
ticks of their hrit Prophet but at the Elme time
confeis their inability to fuitain iiege of mere
than three months without receiving fuccour,
or a diveriion OF the enemy's forces being made
in their favour.
A private letter which have feen from the
Mutt Of Damaicus to the Mutt of this city, re-
lates that certain Adam Effendi, pcrfon &C.
lebrated for his Kill in Mahomedan law, and
high in the confidence of the Porte, had been
lately fent to Mecca TO gather information re-
fpccting the views, and reiources and procee-
dings OF the Wahabi. That this perion was
now on his return to Conttantnoplc with the
Caravans of Pilgrims, and that on receiving in
information of the entry of the Wahabi into
Mecca melted by his zeal, or his vanity, he un-
dertook an embafy in perfon to Wahabi with
the wild de6sn of curing the fcifnatic of his
hereby or at leait in the hope of foftening his
barbarous fury for the demolition of coniecra-
ted Ed6ces. Ise went accompanied by con-
fiderabe flute, as well of his own, as of officers
belonging to the Pafha ofDamafcus-the latter
of which was Immediately diimiiied, but they
brought back to the Paiha the unwelcome intel
Erence, that his friend had been forthwith ar
r-ted, and very fender hope is entertained of
any powers of perfuaiioh, or dignity of charac-
ter avaing for the recovery of his liberty, or G.
ven preiervation of his life.
The horde of Wahabi which is now 70 for
midable TO tie Porte by its numbers, its feroci-
Gus principles and irretible iuccefS, derives its
origin and name from an ohicure Shcik, called
Mahoned, fon of Abed Ell Wahabi of the
tribe of Benz Lauim, inhabitng the province of
Nedgd. He lived upwards half century ago ;
n,,h Lot, he Id H. J.. re
fem, who is blind, and is now Chief Multi of the
feet. - One of the iirtt PROTOTYPES which he
made to his new doctrines was the Patriarch of
few INDECENT families in the fame province of
the Nedgd, of the tribe of Benz Bebeya, named
Mahomod fon of Secoad, who as their followers
increafeo, took upon himfelf the fovereign arl-
thority, in which he has been fucceeded by his
Ton named Abdel Air who is now fupreme
Chief of the Wahabian Settaries, and has fixed
his reiidence at Derigge, a populous town in the
Medgd, but on account of the infirmities of age,
he has transferred the cares of government to the
eldeit of his many ions, Saood, who is alto bleft
with numerous progeny, and is the hero, who
has been already mentioned under the title of
Saood Ell Waiiab.
1t is probable that For many years the difIem-
nation of tbefe new opinions was confined with
lii very narrow Circle-but of late it has fpread
with aftoniihing rapidity: and at this moment
the Wahabian creed is profefled by almof all
the Arab tribes that inhabit the vas tracts OF
country extended from Mecca to the Perian
Gulf, therein computing Labfa, FL Calf, and
the iiland Of Bahrein and from within ten leagues
of the gates of Aleppo and Damafcus to the ex-
trcme confines of Arabia Felix.
The two prominent traits in the character
of the defert Arab, voraoity of gain and indif-
ference in matters of religion, juftify the opini-
on that immediate per1onal advantage is the pri-
mary object of thefc fettaries, how ever, the
ftae pretencc, correction of abufes, may be
held out to- the multitude.
The fundamental os their protection is like
that of the Chriftiah reforners in the fifteenth
century, TO reduce their faith to its primitive
fnfplicty, TO adhere ciofely to the text of the
koran, "the whole koran, and nothing but the
Koran" and to regard every other intitution,
however fanetified by antiquity, or ufeful to the
prefent contribution of focicty, that is not ex-
prelied and directly ordained by that code, as
idoatrous, impious, and detefable. But the
innovation that mott particularly wounds the
delicacy of their orthodoxy, and excites their
jealous indignation, is the abfurd ard i'll direct
cd piety that has loaded the fhrines of Saints
with ufeleis riches, and the uiual cant On fuc'i
occafonsis, of couric, not wanting 10 decry ca
nonization as npou5, becauie, as they pretend,
the devotion toward the faint is in danger of eff