xi。p。299。—M。]
[Footnote127:Ontheseobscurecanals，thereadermaytrytosatisfyhimselffromD\'Anville，Mem。surl\'Egypte，p。108—110，124，132，andalearnedthesis，maintainedandprintedatStrasburgintheyear1770，Jungendorummariumfluviorumquemolimina，p。39—47，68—70。EventhesupineTurkshaveagitatedtheoldprojectofjoiningthetwoseas。MemoiresduBarondeTott，tom。iv。]
Ofhisnewconquest，thecaliphOmarhadanimperfectknowledgefromthevoiceoffameandthelegendsoftheKoran。
HerequestedthathislieutenantwouldplacebeforehiseyestherealmofPharaohandtheAmalekites；andtheanswerofAmrouexhibitsalivelyandnotunfaithfulpictureofthatsingularcountry。^128\"Ocommanderofthefaithful，Egyptisacompoundofblackearthandgreenplants，betweenapulverizedmountainandaredsand。ThedistancefromSyenetotheseaisamonth\'sjourneyforahorseman。Alongthevalleydescendsariver，onwhichtheblessingoftheMostHighreposesbothintheeveningandmorning，andwhichrisesandfallswiththerevolutionsofthesunandmoon。WhentheannualdispensationofProvidenceunlocksthespringsandfountainsthatnourishtheearth，theNilerollshisswellingandsoundingwatersthroughtherealmofEgypt:thefieldsareoverspreadbythesalutaryflood；andthevillagescommunicatewitheachotherintheirpaintedbarks。Theretreatoftheinundationdepositsafertilizingmudforthereceptionofthevariousseeds:thecrowdsofhusbandmenwhoblackenthelandmaybecomparedtoaswarmofindustriousants；
andtheirnativeindolenceisquickenedbythelashofthetask—master，andthepromiseoftheflowersandfruitsofaplentifulincrease。Theirhopeisseldomdeceived；butthericheswhichtheyextractfromthewheat，thebarley，andtherice，thelegumes，thefruit—trees，andthecattle，areunequallysharedbetweenthosewholaborandthosewhopossess。Accordingtothevicissitudesoftheseasons，thefaceofthecountryisadornedwithasilverwave，averdantemerald，andthedeepyellowofagoldenharvest。\"^129Yetthisbeneficialorderissometimesinterrupted；andthelongdelayandsuddenswelloftheriverinthefirstyearoftheconquestmightaffordsomecolortoanedifyingfable。Itissaid，thattheannualsacrificeofavirgin^130hadbeeninterdictedbythepietyofOmar；andthattheNilelaysullenandinactiveinhisshallowbed，tillthemandateofthecaliphwascastintotheobedientstream，whichroseinasinglenighttotheheightofsixteencubits。TheadmirationoftheArabsfortheirnewconquestencouragedthelicenseoftheirromanticspirit。Wemayread，inthegravestauthors，thatEgyptwascrowdedwithtwentythousandcitiesorvillages:^131that，exclusiveoftheGreeksandArabs，theCoptsalonewerefound，ontheassessment，sixmillionsoftributarysubjects，^132ortwentymillionsofeithersex，andofeveryage:thatthreehundredmillionsofgoldorsilverwereannuallypaidtothetreasuryofthecaliphs。^133Ourreasonmustbestartledbytheseextravagantassertions；andtheywillbecomemorepalpable，ifweassumethecompassandmeasuretheextentofhabitableground:avalleyfromthetropictoMemphisseldombroaderthantwelvemiles，andthetriangleoftheDelta，aflatsurfaceoftwothousandonehundredsquareleagues，composeatwelfthpartofthemagnitudeofFrance。^134Amoreaccurateresearchwilljustifyamorereasonableestimate。Thethreehundredmillions，createdbytheerrorofascribe，arereducedtothedecentrevenueoffourmillionsthreehundredthousandpiecesofgold，ofwhichninehundredthousandwereconsumedbythepayofthesoldiers。^135Twoauthenticlists，ofthepresentandofthetwelfthcentury，arecircumscribedwithintherespectablenumberoftwothousandsevenhundredvillagesandtowns。^136AfteralongresidenceatCairo，aFrenchconsulhasventuredtoassignaboutfourmillionsofMahometans，Christians，andJews，fortheample，thoughnotincredible，scopeofthepopulationofEgypt。^137
[Footnote128:Asmallvolume，desMerveilles，&c。，del\'Egypte，composedinthexiiithcenturybyMurtadiofCairo，andtranslatedfromanArabicMs。ofCardinalMazarin，waspublishedbyPierreVatier，Paris，1666。TheantiquitiesofEgyptarewildandlegendary；butthewriterdeservescreditandesteemforhisaccountoftheconquestandgeographyofhisnativecountry，seethecorrespondenceofAmrouandOmar，p。279—289。]
[Footnote129:Inatwentyyears\'residenceatCairo，theconsulMaillethadcontemplatedthatvaryingscene，theNile，lettreii。particularlyp。70，75；thefertilityoftheland，lettreix。FromacollegeatCambridge，thepoeticeyeofGrayhadseenthesameobjectswithakeenerglance:—
Whatwonderinthesultryclimesthatspread，WhereNile，redundanto\'erhissummerbed，Fromhisbroadbosomlifeandverdureflings，Andbroodso\'erEgyptwithhiswaterywings:
Ifwithadventurousoar，andreadysail，Theduskypeopledrivebeforethegale:
Oronfrailfloatstoneighboringcitiesride。
Thatriseandglittero\'ertheambienttide。
Mason\'sWorksandMemoirsofGray，p。199，200。]
[Footnote130:Murtadi，p。164—167。ThereaderwillnoteasilycreditahumansacrificeundertheChristianemperors，oramiracleofthesuccessorsofMahomet。]
[Footnote131:Maillet，Descriptiondel\'Egypte，p。22。Hementionsthisnumberasthecommonopinion；andadds，thatthegeneralityofthesevillagescontaintwoorthreethousandpersons，andthatmanyofthemaremorepopulousthanourlargecities。]
[Footnote132:Eutych。Annal。tom。ii。p。308，311。Thetwentymillionsarecomputedfromthefollowingdata:onetwelfthofmankindabovesixty，onethirdbelowsixteen，theproportionofmentowomenasseventeenorsixteen，RecherchessurlaPopulationdelaFrance，p。71，72。ThepresidentGoguetOriginedesArts，&c。，tom。iii。p。26，&c。Bestowstwenty—sevenmillionsonancientEgypt，becausetheseventeenhundredcompanionsofSesostriswerebornonthesameday。]
[Footnote133:Elmacin，Hist。Saracen。p。218；andthisgrosslumpisswallowedwithoutscruplebyD\'Herbelot，Bibliot。
Orient。p。1031，Ar。buthnot，TablesofAncientCoins，p。262，
andDeGuignes，Hist。desHuns，tom。iii。p。135。TheymightallegethenotlessextravagantliberalityofAppianinfavorofthePtolemiesinpraefat。ofseventyfourmyriads，740，000
talents，anannualincomeof185，ornear300millionsofpoundssterling，accordingaswereckonbytheEgyptianortheAlexandriantalent，Bernard，dePonderibusAntiq。p。186。]
[Footnote134:SeethemeasurementofD\'Anville，Mem。surl\'Egypte，p。23，&c。Aftersomepeevishcavils，M。PauwRecherchessurlesEgyptiens，tom。i。p。118—121canonlyenlargehisreckoningto2250squareleagues。]
[Footnote135:Renaudot，Hist。Patriarch。Alexand。p。334，whocallsthecommonreadingorversionofElmacin，errorlibrarii。
Hisownemendation，of4，300，000pieces，intheixthcentury，maintainsaprobablemediumbetweenthe3，000，000whichtheArabsacquiredbytheconquestofEgypt，idem，p。168。andthe2，400，000whichthesultanofConstantinopleleviedinthelastcentury，PietrodellaValle，tom。i。p。352Thevenot，parti。p。
824。PauwRecherches，tom。ii。p。365—373graduallyraisestherevenueofthePharaohs，thePtolemies，andtheCaesars，fromsixtofifteenmillionsofGermancrowns。]
[Footnote136:ThelistofSchultensIndexGeograph。adcalcemVit。Saladin。p。5contains2396places；thatofD\'Anville，Mem。surl\'Egypte，p。29，fromthedivanofCairo，enumerates2696。]
[Footnote137:SeeMaillet，Descriptiondel\'Egypte，p。28，whoseemstoarguewithcandorandjudgment。IammuchbettersatisfiedwiththeobservationsthanwiththereadingoftheFrenchconsul。HewasignorantofGreekandLatinliterature，andhisfancyistoomuchdelightedwiththefictionsoftheArabs。TheirbestknowledgeiscollectedbyAbulfeda，Descript。
Aegypt。Arab。etLat。aJoh。DavidMichaelis，Gottingae，in4to。，1776；andintworecentvoyagesintoEgypt，weareamusedbySavary，andinstructedbyVolney。Iwishthelattercouldtravelovertheglobe。]
IV。TheconquestofAfrica，fromtheNiletotheAtlanticOcean，^138wasfirstattemptedbythearmsofthecaliphOthman。
ThepiousdesignwasapprovedbythecompanionsofMahometandthechiefsofthetribes；andtwentythousandArabsmarchedfromMedina，withthegiftsandtheblessingofthecommanderofthefaithful。TheywerejoinedinthecampofMemphisbytwentythousandoftheircountrymen；andtheconductofthewarwasintrustedtoAbdallah，^139thesonofSaidandthefoster—brotherofthecaliph，whohadlatelysupplantedtheconquerorandlieutenantofEgypt。Yetthefavoroftheprince，andthemeritofhisfavorite，couldnotobliteratetheguiltofhisapostasy。TheearlyconversionofAbdallah，andhisskilfulpen，hadrecommendedhimtotheimportantofficeoftranscribingthesheetsoftheKoran:hebetrayedhistrust，corruptedthetext，deridedtheerrorswhichhehadmade，andfledtoMeccatoescapethejustice，andexposetheignorance，oftheapostle。
AftertheconquestofMecca，hefellprostrateatthefeetofMahomet；histears，andtheentreatiesofOthman，extortedareluctantpardon；outtheprophetdeclaredthathehadsolonghesitated，toallowtimeforsomezealousdiscipletoavengehisinjuryinthebloodoftheapostate。Withapparentfidelityandeffectivemerit，heservedthereligionwhichitwasnolongerhisinteresttodesert:hisbirthandtalentsgavehimanhonorablerankamongtheKoreish；and，inanationofcavalry，AbdallahwasrenownedastheboldestandmostdexteroushorsemanofArabia。AttheheadoffortythousandMoslems，headvancedfromEgyptintotheunknowncountriesoftheWest。ThesandsofBarcamightbeimpervioustoaRomanlegionbuttheArabswereattendedbytheirfaithfulcamels；andthenativesofthedesertbeheldwithoutterrorthefamiliaraspectofthesoilandclimate。Afterapainfulmarch，theypitchedtheirtentsbeforethewallsofTripoli，^140amaritimecityinwhichthename，thewealth，andtheinhabitantsoftheprovincehadgraduallycentred，andwhichnowmaintainsthethirdrankamongthestatesofBarbary。AreenforcementofGreekswassurprisedandcutinpiecesonthesea—shore；butthefortificationsofTripoliresistedthefirstassaults；andtheSaracensweretemptedbytheapproachofthepraefectGregory^141torelinquishthelaborsofthesiegefortheperilsandthehopesofadecisiveaction。Ifhisstandardwasfollowedbyonehundredandtwentythousandmen，theregularbandsoftheempiremusthavebeenlostinthenakedanddisorderlycrowdofAfricansandMoors，whoformedthestrength，orratherthenumbers，ofhishost。HerejectedwithindignationtheoptionoftheKoranorthetribute；andduringseveraldaysthetwoarmieswerefiercelyengagedfromthedawnoflighttothehourofnoon，whentheirfatigueandtheexcessiveheatcompelledthemtoseekshelterandrefreshmentintheirrespectivecamps。ThedaughterofGregory，amaidofincomparablebeautyandspirit，issaidtohavefoughtbyhisside:fromherearliestyouthshewastrainedtomountonhorseback，todrawthebow，andtowieldthecimeter；andtherichnessofherarmsandapparelwereconspicuousintheforemostranksofthebattle。Herhand，withahundredthousandpiecesofgold，wasofferedfortheheadoftheArabiangeneral，andtheyouthsofAfricawereexcitedbytheprospectofthegloriousprize。Atthepressingsolicitationofhisbrethren，Abdallahwithdrewhispersonfromthefield；buttheSaracenswerediscouragedbytheretreatoftheirleader，andtherepetitionoftheseequalorunsuccessfulconflicts。
[Footnote138:MyconquestofAfricaisdrawnfromtwoFrenchinterpretersofArabicliterature，CardonneHist。del\'Afriqueetdel\'EspagnesouslaDominationdesArabes，tom。i。p。8—55
andOtter，Hist。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxi。p。
111—125，and136。TheyderivetheirprincipalinformationfromNovairi，whocomposed，A。D。1331anEncyclopaediainmorethantwentyvolumes。Thefivegeneralpartssuccessivelytreatof，1。
Physics；2。Man；3。Animals；4。Plants；and，5。History；andtheAfricanaffairsarediscussedinthevithchapterofthevthsectionofthislastpart，Reiske，ProdidagmataadHagjiChalifaeTabulas，p。232—234。AmongtheolderhistorianswhoarequotedbyNavairiwemaydistinguishtheoriginalnarrativeofasoldierwholedthevanoftheMoslems。]
[Footnote139:SeethehistoryofAbdallah，inAbulfedaVit。
Mohammed。p。108andGagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。iii。45—
48。]
[Footnote140:TheprovinceandcityofTripoliaredescribedbyLeoAfricanusinNavigationeetViaggidiRamusio，tom。i。
Venetia，1550，fol。76，versoandMarmol，Descriptiondel\'Afrique，tom。ii。p。562。ThefirstofthesewriterswasaMoor，ascholar，andatraveller，whocomposedortranslatedhisAfricangeographyinastateofcaptivityatRome，wherehehadassumedthenameandreligionofPopeLeoX。InasimilarcaptivityamongtheMoors，theSpaniardMarmol，asoldierofCharlesV。，compiledhisDescriptionofAfrica，translatedbyD\'AblancourtintoFrench，Paris，1667，3vols。in4to。Marmolhadreadandseen，butheisdestituteofthecuriousandextensiveobservationwhichaboundsintheoriginalworkofLeotheAfrican。]
[Footnote141:Theophanes，whomentionsthedefeat，ratherthanthedeath，ofGregory。Hebrandsthepraefectwiththename:hehadprobablyassumedthepurple，Chronograph。p。285。]
AnobleArabian，whoafterwardsbecametheadversaryofAli，andthefatherofacaliph，hadsignalizedhisvalorinEgypt，andZobeir^142wasthefirstwhoplantedthescaling—ladderagainstthewallsofBabylon。IntheAfricanwarhewasdetachedfromthestandardofAbdallah。Onthenewsofthebattle，Zobeir，withtwelvecompanions，cuthiswaythroughthecampoftheGreeks，andpressedforwards，withouttastingeitherfoodorrepose，topartakeofthedangersofhisbrethren。Hecasthiseyesroundthefield:\"Where，\"saidhe，\"isourgeneral?\"\"Inhistent。\"\"IsthetentastationforthegeneraloftheMoslems?\"
Abdallahrepresentedwithablushtheimportanceofhisownlife，andthetemptationthatwasheldforthbytheRomanpraefect。
\"Retort，\"saidZobeir，\"ontheinfidelstheirungenerousattempt。
ProclaimthroughtheranksthattheheadofGregoryshallberepaidwithhiscaptivedaughter，andtheequalsumofonehundredthousandpiecesofgold。\"TothecourageanddiscretionofZobeirthelieutenantofthecaliphintrustedtheexecutionofhisownstratagem，whichinclinedthelong—disputedbalanceinfavoroftheSaracens。Supplyingbyactivityandartificethedeficiencyofnumbers，apartoftheirforceslayconcealedintheirtents，whiletheremainderprolongedanirregularskirmishwiththeenemytillthesunwashighintheheavens。Onbothsidestheyretiredwithfaintingsteps:theirhorseswereunbridled，theirarmorwaslaidaside，andthehostilenationsprepared，orseemedtoprepare，fortherefreshmentoftheevening，andtheencounteroftheensuingday。Onasuddenthechargewassounded；theArabiancamppouredforthaswarmoffreshandintrepidwarriors；andthelonglineoftheGreeksandAfricanswassurprised，assaulted，overturned，bynewsquadronsofthefaithful，who，totheeyeoffanaticism，mightappearasabandofangelsdescendingfromthesky。ThepraefecthimselfwasslainbythehandofZobeir:hisdaughter，whosoughtrevengeanddeath，wassurroundedandmadeprisoner；andthefugitivesinvolvedintheirdisasterthetownofSufetula，towhichtheyescapedfromthesabresandlancesoftheArabs。SufetulawasbuiltonehundredandfiftymilestothesouthofCarthage:agentledeclivityiswateredbyarunningstream，andshadedbyagroveofjuniper—trees；and，intheruinsofatriumphaarch，aportico，andthreetemplesoftheCorinthianorder，curiositymayyetadmirethemagnificenceoftheRomans。^143Afterthefallofthisopulentcity，theprovincialsandBarbariansimploredonallsidesthemercyoftheconqueror。Hisvanityorhiszealmightbeflatteredbyoffersoftributeorprofessionsoffaith:buthislosses，hisfatigues，andtheprogressofanepidemicaldisease，preventedasolidestablishment；andtheSaracens，afteracampaignoffifteenmonths，retreatedtotheconfinesofEgypt，withthecaptivesandthewealthoftheirAfricanexpedition。
Thecaliph\'sfifthwasgrantedtoafavorite，onthenominalpaymentoffivehundredthousandpiecesofgold；^144butthestatewasdoublyinjuredbythisfallacioustransaction，ifeachfoot—soldierhadsharedonethousand，andeachhorsemanthreethousand，pieces，intherealdivisionoftheplunder。TheauthorofthedeathofGregorywasexpectedtohaveclaimedthemostpreciousrewardofthevictory:fromhissilenceitmightbepresumedthathehadfalleninthebattle，tillthetearsandexclamationsofthepraefect\'sdaughteratthesightofZobeirrevealedthevalorandmodestyofthatgallantsoldier。Theunfortunatevirginwasoffered，andalmostrejectedasaslave，byherfather\'smurderer，whocoollydeclaredthathisswordwasconsecratedtotheserviceofreligion；andthathelaboredforarecompensefarabovethecharmsofmortalbeauty，ortherichesofthistransitorylife。ArewardcongenialtohistemperwasthehonorablecommissionofannouncingtothecaliphOthmanthesuccessofhisarms。Thecompanionsthechiefs，andthepeople，wereassembledinthemoschofMedina，toheartheinterestingnarrativeofZobeir；andastheoratorforgotnothingexceptthemeritofhisowncounselsandactions，thenameofAbdallahwasjoinedbytheArabianswiththeheroicnamesofCaledandAmrou。
^145
[Footnote142:SeeinOckleyHist。oftheSaracens，vol。ii。p。
45thedeathofZobeir，whichwashonoredwiththetearsofAli，againstwhomhehadrebelled。HisvaloratthesiegeofBabylon，ifindeeditbethesameperson，ismentionedbyEutychius，Annal。tom。ii。p。308]
[Footnote143:Shaw\'sTravels，p。118，119。]
[Footnote144:Mimicaemptio，saysAbulfeda，erathaec，etmiradonatio；quandoquidemOthman，ejusnominenummosexaerariopriusablatosaerariopraestabat，Annal。Moslem。p。78。Elmacininhiscloudyversion，p。39seemstoreportthesamejob。WhentheArabsbesiegedthepalaceofOthman，itstoodhighintheircatalogueofgrievances。]
[Footnote145:Theophan。Chronograph。p。235edit。Paris。Hischronologyislooseandinaccurate。]
ChapterLI:ConquestsByTheArabs。
PartIX。
Ontheintelligenceofthisrapidsuccess，theapplauseofMusadegeneratedintoenvy；andhebegan，nottocomplain，buttofear，thatTarikwouldleavehimnothingtosubdue。AttheheadoftenthousandArabsandeightthousandAfricans，hepassedoverinpersonfromMauritaniatoSpain:thefirstofhiscompanionswerethenoblestoftheKoreish；hiseldestsonwasleftinthecommandofAfrica；thethreeyoungerbrethrenwereofanageandspirittosecondtheboldestenterprisesoftheirfather。AthislandinginAlgezire，hewasrespectfullyentertainedbyCountJulian，whostifledhisinwardremorse，andtestified，bothinwordsandactions，thatthevictoryoftheArabshadnotimpairedhisattachmenttotheircause。SomeenemiesyetremainedfortheswordofMusa。ThetardyrepentanceoftheGothshadcomparedtheirownnumbersandthoseoftheinvaders；thecitiesfromwhichthemarchofTarikhaddeclinedconsideredthemselvesasimpregnable；andthebravestpatriotsdefendedthefortificationsofSevilleandMerida。TheyweresuccessivelybesiegedandreducedbythelaborofMusa，whotransportedhiscampfromtheBoetistotheAnas，fromtheGuadalquivirtotheGuadiana。WhenhebeheldtheworksofRomanmagnificence，thebridge，theaqueducts，thetriumphalarches，andthetheatre，oftheancientmetropolisofLusitania，\"Ishouldimagine，\"saidhetohisfourcompanions，\"thatthehumanracemusthaveunitedtheirartandpowerinthefoundationofthiscity:happyisthemanwhoshallbecomeitsmaster!\"Heaspiredtothathappiness，buttheEmeritanssustainedonthisoccasionthehonoroftheirdescentfromtheveteranlegionariesofAugustus^183Disdainingtheconfinementoftheirwalls，theygavebattletotheArabsontheplain；butanambuscaderisingfromtheshelterofaquarry，oraruin，chastisedtheirindiscretion，andinterceptedtheirreturn。