all trials, indefatigable, brave and cruel more than three days in Mecca, and not (conversion or death being their watch- to interfere in the contest of the brothers word), their dominion spread with incred- respecting the sherifate. After the deible rapidity among the surrounding Arab parture of the caravan, the Wahabees tribes, of which, in a short time, twenty- took the holy city without resistance, six were subjugated, incorporated with murdered many sheiks and Mohammethe original Wahabees, filled with hatred dans, who persisted in their religious of Mohammedanism, and taught to de- faith, and reinstated, indeed, Abd-Allight in plundering the treasures of the Mein, but destroyed all the sacred monumosques. Sehud's son and successor, ments, and carried off immense treasures. Abd-Elaziz, could bring into the field Leaving behind only a small garrison of 120,000 cavalry. Well provided with 100 men, Sehud next attempted, in vain, camels and horses, and armed with sword the conquest of Jidda and Medina, after and spear, the Wahabites, though resem- which he returned to Derayeh, where, bling the Bedouins (q. v.), and destitute of meanwhile, his father had been murdered, any considerable artillery, which they ob- in 1803, by a Persian. Sehud was now tained only by conquest, were dangerous prince of the Wahabees. Their highenemies. The nature of the country, their priest was Hussein the Blind, the eldest mode of life, and their religious creed, son of Sheik Mohammed. The misforformed their character, which, from the tunes which they suffered were soon remountainous regions of their original paired. In 1806, the Wahabees appeared seat, is even more savage and bold than more numerous than ever; plundered the that of the first followers of Mohammed. caravans of pilgrims going to the holy sepThe disorders which prevailed in all parts ulchre; got possession of the Mahmel (a of the dominions of the Porte, including splendid box, in which the grand seignior the Arabian countries under its protec- sends, every year, the presents destined tion, was especially favorable to the en- for the tomb of the prophet); and conterprises of the Wahabees, who, from quered Mecca, Medina, and even Jidda, their seat between the Persian gulf and marking their path by bloodshed and conthe Red sea, had reached several parts of versions, among which, that of the mufti Asiatic Turkey, before the slightest meas- of Mecca excited the most astonishment. ures were taken to put a stop to their The fear of the Wahabees spread throughdevastations and conversions. In 1801, out the East, and even the British were the pacha of Bagdad first received orders apprehensive that their commerce would to proceed, with the tribes which had ad- be endangered, several bands of warriors hered to Mohammedanism, against the having proceeded to the Persian gulf, Wahabees, who, however, by great pres- formed a junction with the pirates, and erits, bribed the generals sent against disturbed the communication between them to retreat, and then attacked the Bassora, Mascat and India. The British, town of Iman Hussein, destroyed it, and, therefore, took the imam of Mascat, after acquiring much plunder, fled back against whom his brother had rebelled in to their deserts. On this occasion, they the country of Oman, under their protecalso pillaged the mosque of Ali, which tion, and, to defend him against the Wawas highly venerated by the Persians. habees, sent him, from Bombay, in 1809, The Persian monarch, Fath Ali, threat- a fleet and army. The chastisement of ened them with his vengeance, but was their common enemies was fully effected prevented from executing his purpose by in several battles on the sea and coasts, civil wars. The daring Wahabites now and especially by the demolition of their turned an eager gaze upon the far greater chief place of assembling, Ras el Elyma treasures of Mecca, the holy city. Here (Kherim), where 3200 inhabitants were Ghaleb, a younger brother, had deprived killed, and 1600 taken prisoners. On the his elder brother, Abd-Al-Mein, of the other hand, the British, as a condition of sherifate. On pretence of avenging this their further assistance, stipulated with the wrong, Abd-Elaziz sent his son Sehud, imam for the islands of the Persian gulf, with 100,000 men, to Mecca, where he put Bahrein and Zebora, celebrated for their Ghaleb to flight, but was prevented, for a rich pearl fisheries. In 1810, the sublime while, from conquering the city, by the Porte summoned Mohammed Ali, pacha arrival of the great caravan, under the of Cairo, and the pachas of Damascus and escort of the pacha of Damascus, who, Acre, to undertake an expedition against however, entered into a treaty, not to stay the pacha of Bagdad, Jussuff Pacha, and * The use of coffee and tobacco, as well as of his allies, the Wahabees. The pacha of silk clothing, was forbidden by their law. Acre obeyed this command with equal activity and bravery, and conquered Bag. med Ali, in the beginning of 1815, at dad, the pacha of which, deprived of his Bassila, not far from the city of Tarabe. treasures, fled to his father, the pacha of It was, nevertheless, difficult to attack Cairo, who had been ordered to take part them in the centre of their power. Ibraagainst him, and with whom he found a him, the son of the pacha, finally sucfavorable reception. Thus the quarrels ceeded, in 1818, in inflicting a total defeat and jealousies of the Turkish pachas, and on the Wahabees, under their sovereign, of the Persian khans, greatly favored the Abdallah Ben Sund, and in blocking them progress of the Wahabees. Soon after up in their fortified camp, four days' the massacre, perpetrated, by Mohammed march from their capital, Derayeh. The Ali, among the beys and mamelukes at camp was stormed September 3, eighty Cairo, the Wahabees formed a junction pieces of artillery taken, 20,000 soldiers with the relics of them who had fled to put to death, and Abdallah himself made Upper Egypt. Mohammed Ali now pros- prisoner. The inhabitants of the city now ecuted, with indefatigable energy, his surrendered, but demanded an amnesty, preparations for the annihilation of the and that their lives and houses should Wahabees. He conquered Yambo and be spared; but the conquerors declared Nahala in 1811, and, as the fruits of three that the sultan alone could grant or revictories, sent three sacks of Wahabees' fuse these terms. Meanwhile, the arrival ears to Constantinople. No subsequent of the prisoner, who, both as a rebel and progress, however, was made: on the an apostate, was of great political imporcontrary, Jussuff Pacha, who now fought, tance to the sublime Porte, was celebrated with his father, Mohammed Ali, on the in Constantinople as a national triumph. side of the Turks, was forced to retreat With bis mufti and treasurer, he was (he died soon after of the plague). But then carried in chains before the sultan, the Wahabees, betrayed by their ally, the tried by the divan, and beheaded, with his sherif of Mecca, and abandoned by seva fellow prisoners, December 17, 1818. Deeral Arab tribes, suffered new defeats in tached bands of Wahabees are still said the defiles of Sofra and Judeyda, and were to rove through the desert; and the heroic altogether driven from the route to Me- daughter of the founder of the sect is dina. This holy city was weakly garri- said to be their leader; but the sultan, soned, and, therefore, easily conquered by having left the conquered to the pleasure the Turks. Mecca, also, soon after fell of the pacha of Egypt, he entirely deinto their power. The solemn delivery stroyed their principal seat; and the inof the keys of the regained cities of the habitants, after the loss of their property, faith, was celebrated with great rejoicings were dispersed.* The severity of Ibraat’Constantinople. These victories had bim, who is remembered as the scourge done much for the security of Mohain- of Arabia, and the curse of Derayeh, did medanism, which finds one of its chief not, however, put an end to the Wahabite supports in the possession of Mecca and reformation, nor to the spirit of resistance Medina, and the uninterrupted pilgrim- by which its abettors were animated. The ages of the faithful to those cities. This war was renewed in 1824, with as much formidable sect was as yet, however, far ferocity as ever, and apparently with infrom being suppressed. Mohammed Ali, creased means, on the part of the insurpacha of Egypt, therefore, renewed his gents, of bringing it to a successful issue. preparations; but he lost, by surprise, a It was protracted during the three followfortified place called Kumsidal, contain- * Derayeh, in the Arab province of Nedsjed, ing great stores of arms and ammunition, protected by deserts and mountains, was situated which the Wahabees took by surprise. in 42° 14' E. lon., 26° N. lat. (in the great valley The Persian disturbances were also very gardens and orchards, twelve days: journey from of Wadyhenisch, 300 miles long), surrounded by favorable to them; and they found oppor. Bagdad, and 130 leagues east of Medina, 100 tunity to form a new union with several leagues south-west of Bassora, and 160 leagues Arab tribes. But their daring was not south-east of Jerusalem. It was two leagues accompanied with prudence. They un- long, half a league broad, exposed to frequent dertook the boldest predatory excursions, inundations, and contained 2500 houses of stone, while their enemy, the pacha of Egypt, resided in the suburb of Tereif. According to 28 mosques, and 30 schools. The former rulers adopted judicious measures for their en- some accounts, the Wahabees were divided into tire overthrow. After the death of their three classes-soldiers,field laborers, and artisans ; sovereign, Sehud II, in 1814, when quar- but since, like the other Arabs, every able man rels arose on the subject of the succes was destined for predatory excursions, it is more correct to divide them into priests, soldiers, and sion, they suffered several defeats. A de- slaves. According to late accounts, the sect of cisive victory was obtained by Mobam- the Wahabees is still very numerous in Arabia. WAHABEES—WAKEFIELD. ing years, with alternate advantage; hav- the West Riding of Yorkshire, on the ing been, during the latter portion of that river Calder. The parish church is a interval , allowed to slumber, owing to the Gothic structure: the spire is upwards of struggle made by the Greeks in the Mo- 237 feet in height. There is a handsome rea, to recover their liberty. In this war, stone bridge over the Calder, built in the Mohammed Ali (q. v.) first put in prac- reign of Edward III, in the centre of tice his improved system of tactics, on which is a chapel, in the richest style of the European method; and his success, as Gothic or Saracenic architecture, ten in his recent campaigns in Syria, was ow- yards in length, and about eight in breadth. ing to his being provided with soldiers Wakefield is one of the greatest corn disciplined by European officers.—See markets in England, and contains imPlanat's Histoire de la Régénération de mense corn warehouses. Population, l'Egypte (Geneva, 1830), for an account 12,232; nine miles south of Leeds. By of these campaigns against the Wahabees. the reform act of 1832, Wakefield is con WAHLENBERG, George, lecturer on bot- stituted a borough, returning one member any in the university of Úpsal, and super- to parliament. intendent of the museum of the society WAKEFIELD, Gilbert, a distinguished of science in that place, was born in the scholar and critic, son of the reverend province of Warmeland, in 1784. While George Wakefield of Nottingham, was a student at the university, he distinguish- born in 1756, and entered, in 1772, Jesus ed himself by his progress in scientific college, in Cambridge, where he pursued studies, and, soon after leaving the univer- his studies with great ardor, in 1776 gradsity, was enabled, by the assistance of the uated bachelor of arts, and was soon after Swedish patriot baron Hermelin, and of elected a fellow. In the same year, he the scientific societies of Upsal and Stock- gave the public a small volume of Latin holm, to enter upon a course of botanical poems, with a few critical notes upon Hoand geological inquiries, which led him mer. In 1778, he received deacon's orto make excursions into the remote parts ders, and, on leaving college, engaged in of the Scandinavian peninsula, through a curacy at Stockport, in Cheshire, and Swedish and Norwegian Lapland, and to subsequently at another near Liverpool. Gothland. Having examined Scandinavia, The dissatisfaction which he entertained he set out upon similar scientific expedi- at the doctrines and liturgy of the church tions to foreign countries. In 1810, he of England progressively ilkreusing, he visited Bohemia and Hungary, examined determined to take the first opportunity of the Carpathian mountains, travelled in resigning his situation in it; which design Switzerland, and; after visiting the princi- he fulfilled in 1779, and accepted the office pal German universities, returned to Upsal, of classical tutor at the dissenting acadein 1814. His Flora Lapponica, Flora Car- my at Warrington. He had early formed pathorum, Flora Upsaliensis, and Flora a design of giving a new version of the Suecica (2 vols., 1824), take a high rank New Testament, and published, in 1782, among works of this nature. Wahlen- his New Translation of the Gospel of St. berg has likewise written some geological Matthew, with Notes Critical, Philological essays of value. and Explanatory (4to.). On the dissoluWAHLSTADT; a generic German term tion of the Warrington academy, he refor field of battle (from Wal, which means moved to Bramcote, in Nottinghamshire, fight, and also dead body; hence Walhal- with a view of taking private pupils. la, or Valhalla). As a geographical name, Here he published, in 1784, the first volit belongs to a large village in Silesia, ume of an Enquiry into the Opinions of near Liegnitz (9. v.), on the Katzbach the Christian Writers of the First Three (q. v.), where Henry II, duke of Silesia, Centuries concerning the Person of Jesus fought a bloody battle, April 9, 1241, Christ, a work which he never concludagainst the Tartars, in which he lost his ed. He subsequently removed to Richlife, and the latter were victorious. In mond and Nottingham, until, in 1789, he memory of this battle, the place and vil- commenced his Silva Critica, the object lage were called Wahlstadt. In the same of which was to illustrate the Scriptures place, Blucher (q. v.) was victorious over by the philology of Greece and Řome. the French, Aug. 26, 1813 (see Katzbach), Of this learned performance, five parts and, in reward of this and other victories, appeared in succession, until 1795, the was made prince of Wahlstadt. three first , from the Cambridge press. In Wahoo. (See Elm.) 1790, he quitted Nottingham, in order to Waifs. (See Estrays.) accept the office of classical tutor at the WAKEFIELD ; a town of England, in dissenting college at Hackney. Here his a services were highly esteemed, until he sides the works already mentioned, and a , in the metropolis, but, in August plains. Few countries are more indebted of the same year, was seized with a typhus to nature; but the bad government and infever, which terminated his life, Sept. 9, security of property have left it nearly a 1801, in the forty-sixth year of his age. waste, Corn, tobacco, flax, horses, sheep Mr. Wakefield was a zealous and indus- and salt abound; but the rich soil is little trious scholar, who followed what he cultivated, and the mineral treasures of deemed truth, without regard to conse- the country are undisturbed. The inquences, wherever it might lead him: habitants are chiefly Walachians and gyphence his abandonment of the church, sies. The former, the original inhabitants, and of public worship, and formation of are a mixture of different nations-Daa system of divinity of his own ; for he cians, Bulgarians, Sclavonians, Goths and never formally joined any body of dis- Romans. They call themselves Romans, senters. His classical emendations occa- and speak a corrupt Latin. Their summer sionally exhibit strange singularities of dress also resembles that of their ancestaste and opinion; and, in conjectural crit- tors in the period of the Roman empire, icism, indeed, he evinced much of the as appears by the figures on Trajan's colbold character of Bentley and Markland. umn, in Rome. They are rude, ignorant His private character was amiable and esti- and stupid. The gypsies, who are very mable, and far removed from the asperity numerous, resemble those found in other of his controversy and his criticism. Be- countries. The mountaineers, who have WALACHIA-WALDECK. the right to hear arms, are called, in Mol- tress; and Veere; and numerous villages. was rendered tribu- are to be remarked the Faune Parisienne, tary to the Turks. It still, however, re- on the plan of Fabricius (2 vols., 1802); tained its own princes, and a separate ad- Géographie Moderne, a rifacimento and ministration, the Turks occupying only translation of Pinkerton (6 vols., 1804); the three fortresses of Brailow or Ibrail, Histoire naturelle des Àranéides ; ReGiorgiev and Thumul. - Still it was often cherches Géographiques sur l'Intérieur de plundered by the Turks, and subjected to l'Afrique Septentrionale; Notice sur la forced contributions; and the hospodars Vie et les Ouvrages de Don F. Azara; made the best use of their precarious au- Histoire de la Vie et des Ouvrages de Lathority to pillage the people. In 1716, fontaine (2 vols.); and numerous other Mavrocordatus was appointed hospodar. geographical, archæological and scientific He was the first Greek who had received treatises in different publications. He this post, and, with his successors, who has likewise been a contributor to the were also Greeks, did much towards Biographie Universelle (Paris, 1811–1828, civilizing and improving the condition of 53 vols.), and the Dictionnaire Géothe country. The insurrection of 1821 graphique Universel, now publishing at (see Hetaireia, and Greece, Revolution of) Paris (ninth vol., 1832). was quelled, and only rendered the state WALDECK; a sovereign principality of of the province more deplorable, until the Germany, bordering to the south and war of 1828, when it was occupied by east on Hesse-Cassel, and to the west and the Russians, and delivered from the iron north on the Prussian province of Westyoke of Turkish despotism. phalia. It has a superficial area of 455 WALCHEREN, or WALCHERN; an island square miles, with 56,000 inhabitants. of the Netherlands, the most important The soil is mostly stony, but yields grain and the most westerly of the Zealand in abundance, and affords good pasturage. islands, about thirteen miles from north The religion of the inhabitants, who are to south, and eight from east to west, industrious, but poor, is Lutheran. The situated in the German sea, at the mouth county of Pyrmont (q. v.) belongs to Walof the Scheldt. It lies low, protected deck, though territorially separated from from inundation by strong dikes; is well it. The Waldeck estates are composed cultivated, but not healthy. It contains of certain landed proprietors, deputies three towns, Middleburg, the chief place, from the thirteen towns of the principality, with 13,200 inbabitants; Flushing, a for- and ten deputies of the peasants. Wal |