Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/366

 692–705] equally with their Commander, resented the action of the "Enemy" (as they called him) "of God and man"; and, declaring war against both him and his Master, swore allegiance to Ibn al-Ashʿath, who, making favourable terms with Zunbīl, forthwith marched on Al-ʿIrāḳ. The Caliph, in alarm, sent reinforcements, which Al-Ḥajjāj pushed on to the frontier. But Ibn al-Ashʿath beat them back at Tostar, and crossing the Tigris, advanced on Al-Baṣra. The rebel, entering the city, was received with open arms. Al-Ḥajjāj, determined not to be beaten, retired with a few people of Thaḳīf and Ḳoreish, until reinforcements of his Syrians under their Kelbite leader defeated their assailants, who thereupon fell back on Al-Kūfa, which had already thrown off its allegiance under a Temīmite captain. Al-Baṣra being now at his mercy, Al-Ḥajjāj took a signal revenge by treacherously slaying (so we are told) 11,000 of the inhabitants after promising them quarter. Meanwhile crowds of the discontented citizens streamed forth to Ibn al-Ashʿath, who was able once more to meet Al-Ḥajjāj, half-way between the two cities, with 100,000 men. The Caliph was now so alarmed that he offered terms to the rebels by the hand of his son and brother. Al-Ḥajjāj was to be superseded, the pensions of the ʿIrāḳites were to be made equal to those of the Syrians, and suitable provision made for Ibn al-Ashʿath. Al-Ḥajjāj remonstrated with the Caliph, reminding him of ʿOthmān's fate, but he was firm. Ibn al-Ashʿath was inclined to accept the offer; but his army rejected it with scorn, and prepared for battle. Several months were spent in skirmishing and single combats; and it was not till the middle of 82 that a