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 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 429 and secure, either in this life or in the life to come. Let every man, according to his inclination, advance or retire." Not a Musulman deserted his standard. " Lead the way," said Ab- dallah to his Christian guide, " and you shall see what the com- panions of the prophet can perform." They charged in five squadrons ; but, after the first advantage of the surprise, they were encompassed and almost overwhelmed by the multitude of their enemies ; and their valiant band is fancifully compared to a white spot in the skin of a black camel. '^ About the hour of sunset, when their weapons dropped from their hands, when they panted on the verge of eternity, they discovered an approaching cloud of dust, they heard the welcome sound of the lechir,"^^ and they soon perceived the standard of Caled, who flew to their relief with the utmost speed of his cavalry. The Christians were broken by his attack, and slaughtered in their flight as far as the river of Tripoli. They left behind them the various riches of the fair : the merchandises that were exposed for sale, the money that was brought for purchase, the gay decorations of the nuptials, and the governor's daughter, with forty of her female attendants. The fruits, provisions, and furniture, the money, plate, and jewels, were diligently laden on the backs of horses, asses, and mules ; and the holy robbers returned in triumph to Damascus. The hermit, after a short and angiy controversy with Caled, declined the crown of martyrdom, and was left alive in the solitary scene of blood and devastation. Svria,^^ one of the countries that have been improved by thesiegeBof 1 1 • • • 1 f 1 /> uo rni HeUqpolls most early cultivation, is not unwortliy or the preierence.*^ Ihe and Emew. 791 am bolder than Mr. Ockley (vol. i. p. 164), who dares not insert this figu- rative expression in the text, though he observes, in a marginal note, that the Arabians often borrow their similes from that useful and familiar animal. The reindeer may be equally famous in the songs of the Laplanders. 80 We heard the tecbir ; so the Arabs call Their shout of onset, when with loud appeal They challenge heaven, as if demanding conquest. This word, so formidable in their holy wars, is a verb active (says Ockley in his Index) of the second conjugation from Kabbara, which signifies saying Alia Acbar, God is most mighty ! 81 In the Geography of Abulfeda, the description of Syria, his native country, is the most interesting and authentic portion. It was published in Arabic and Latin, Lipsice, 1766, in quarto, with the learned notes of Kochler and Reiske, and some extracts of geography and natural history from Ibn 01 Wardii. Among the modern travels, Pocock's description of the East (of Syria and Mesopotamia, vol. ii. p. 88-209) 's a work of superior learning and dignity ; but the author too often confounds what he had seen and what he had read. 82 The praises of Dionysius are just and lively. Kal ttjc ^ej- (Syria) n-oAAoi re xal o^toi ai'Spe? ixnvmv (in Periegesi, v. 902, in tom. iv. Geograph. Minor. Hudson). In another place he styles the country vo)< tToKi.v aXav (v. 898). He proceeds to say.