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CHAP. tate flight beyond the hills of Bochara.40 But the final con

quest of Transoxiana,“ as well as of Spain, was reserved for the glorious reign of the inactive Walid ; and the name of Catibah, the camel driver, declares the origin and merit of his successful lieutenant. While one of his colleagues displayed the first Mahometan banner on the banks of the Indus, the spacious regions between the Oxus, the Jaxartes, and the Caspian Sea, were reduced by the arms of Catibah to the obedience of the prophet and of the caliph.42 A tribute of two millions of pieces of gold was imposed on the infidels; their idols were burnt or broken; the Musulman chief pronounced a sermon in the new mosch of Carizme; after several battles, the Turkish hords were driven back to the desart; and the emperors of China solicited the friendship of the victorious Arabs. To their industry, the prosperity of the province, the Sogdiana of the ancients, may in a great measure be ascribed; but the advantages of the soil and climate had been understood and cultivated since the reign of the Macedonian kings. Before the invasion of the Saracens, Carizme, Bocara, and Samarcand, were rich and populous under the yoke of the shepherds of the north. These cities were surrounded with a double wall; and the exterior forti. fication, of a larger circumference, inclosed the fields and gardens of the adjacent district. The mutual wants of India and Europe were supplied by the diligence of the Sogdian merchants; and the inestimable art of transforming linen into paper, has been diffused from the manufacture of Sa. marcand over the western world.43

40 It was valued at 2000 pieces of gold, and was the prize of Obeide llah, the son of Zivad, a name afterwards infamous by the murder of Hosein (Ockley's History of the Saracens, vol. ii.p. 142, 143). His brother Salem was accompanied by his wife, the first Arabian woman (A. D. 680) who passed the Oxus: she borrowed, or rather stole, the crown and jewels of the princess of the Sogdians (p. 231, 232).

41 A part of Abulfeda’s geography is translated by Greaves, inserted in Hudson's collection of the minor geographers (tom.in), and entitled Descriptio Chorasmiæ et Mawaralıahre, id esi, regionum exira fluvium, Oxum, p. 80. The name of Trans-oxiend, sofer in sound, equivalent in sense,

is aptis used by Petit de la Croix (Hist. de Gengiscan, &c), and some modern Orientalists, but they are mistaken in ascribing it to the writers of antiquity.

42 The conquests of Catibah are fainily marked by Eliacin (Hist. Sara. cen. p. 81), d'Herbelot Bibliot. Orient. Cutbah; Samarcanil, Valid), and de Guignes (Hist. des Huns, tom.i.p. 58, 59).

43 A curious description of Samarcand is inserted in the Bibliotheca Ara. bico-Hispana, tom. i. p. 203, &c. The librarian Casiri (tom. 1. 9.) rela:es, from credible testimony, that paper was first imported from China to Samar.

II. No sooner had Abubeker restored the unity of faith CHAP.

LI. and government, than he dispatched a circular letter to the Arabian tribes." In the name of the most merciful God, to

Invasion of “the rest of the true believers. Health and happiness, and Syria,

A. D. 632. “the mercy and blessing of God be upon you. I praise the “ most high God, and I pray for his prophet Mahomet. “This is to acquaint you, that I intend to send the true “ believers into Syria 44 to take it out of the hands of the “infidels. And I would have you know, that the fighting “ for religion is an act of obedience to God.” His messengers returned with the tidings of pious and martial ardour, which they had kindled in every province; and the camp of Medina was successively filled with the intrepid bands of the Saracens who panted for action, complained of the heat of the season, and the scarcity of provisions; and accused with impatient murmurs the delays of the caliph. As soon as their numbers were complete, Abubeker ascended the hill, reviewed the men, the horses, and the arms, and poured forth a fervent prayer for the success of their undertaking.

a In person, and on foot, he accompanied the first day's march; and when the blushing leaders attempted to dismount, the caliph removed their scruples by a declaration, that those who rode, and those who walked, in the service of religion, were equally meritorious. His instructions 45 to the chiefs of the Syrian army, were inspired by the warlike fanaticism which advances to seize, and affects to despise, the objects of earthly ambition. “

Remember,” said the successor of the prophet, “ that you are always in the presence of God, on

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“the verge of death, in the assurance of judgment, and the “hope of paradise. Avoid injustice and oppression; con“sult with your brethren, and study to preserve the love and “ confidence of your troops. When you fight the battles of

. " the Lord, acquit yourselves like men, without turning your “backs; but let not your victory be stained with the blood " of women or children. Destroy no palm-trees, nor burn

any fields of corn. Cut down no fruit-trees, nor do any "mischief to cattle, only such as you kill to eat. When you “ make any covenant or article, stand to it, and be as good " as your word. As you go on, you will find some religious

persons who live retired in monasteries, and propose to “themselves to serve God that way: let them alone, and “neither kill them nor destroy their monasteries:16 And you “ will find another sort of people that belong to the synagogue “ of Satan, who have shaven crowns;47 be sure you cleave “their skulls, and give them no quarter till they either turn “Mahometans or pay tribute.” All profane or frivolous conversation; all dangerous recollection of ancient quarrels was severely prohibited among the Arabs ; in the tumult of a camp, the exercises of religion were assiduously practised; and the intervals of action were employed in prayer, meditation, and the study of the Koran. The abuse, or even the use, of wine was chastised by fourscore strokes on the soles of the feet, and in the fervour of their primitive zeal many secret sinners revealed their fault, and solicited their punishment. After some hesitation the command of the Syrian army was delegated to Abu Obeidah, one of the fugitives of Mecca and companions of Mahomet; whose zeal and devotion were assuaged, without being abated, by the singular mildness and benevolence of his temper. But in all the emergencies of war, the soldiers demanded the superior genius of Caled: and whoever might be the choice of the

46 Notwithstanding this precept, M. Pauw (Recherches sur les Egyptiens, tom. ii. p. 192. edit. Lausanne) represents the Bedoweens as the implacable enemies of the Christian monks. For my own part I am more inclined to suspect the avarice of the Arabian robbers, and the prejudices of the German philosopher.

47 Even in the seventh century, the monks were generally laymen; they wore their hair long and dishevelled, and shaved their heads when they were ordained priests. The circular tonsure was sacred and mysterious; it was the crown of thorns; but it was likewise a royal diadem, and every priest was a king, &c. (Thomassin, Discipline de l'Eglise, tom. i. p. 721...758. especially p 737,738).

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prince, the sword of God was both in fact and fame the fore- CHAP. most leader of the Saracens. He obeyed without reluctance; he was consulted without jealousy; and such was the spirit of the man, or rather of the times, that Caled professed his readiness to serve under the banner of the faith, though it were in the hands of a child or an enemy. Glory, and riches, and dominion, were indeed promised to the victorious Musulman; but he was carefully instructed, that if the goods of this life were his only incitement, they likewise would be his only reward

One of the fifteen provinces of Syria, the cultivated lands Siege of to the eastward of the Jordan, had been decorated by Ro

Bosra. man vanity with the name of Arabia;48 and the first arms of the Saracens were justified by the semblance of a national right. The country was enriched by the various benefits of trade; by the vigilance of the emperors it was covered with a line of forts; and the populous cities of Gerasa, Philadelphia, and Bosra,“ were secure at least from a surprise, by the solid structure of their walls. The last of these cities was the eighteenth station from Medina: the road was familiar to the caravans of Hejaz and Irak, who annually visited this plenteous market of the province and the desart: the perpetual jealousy of the Arabs had trained the inhabitants to arms; and twelve thousand horse could sally from the gates of Bosra, an appellation which signifies, in the Syriac language, a strong tower of defence. Encouraged by their first success against the open towns and Aving parties of the borders, a detachment of four thousand Mos. lems presumed to summon and attack the fortress of Bosra. They were oppressed by the numbers of the Syrians; they were saved by the presence of Caled, with fifteen hundred horse: he blamed the enterprise, restored the battle, and rescued his friend, the venerable Serjabil, who had vainly

49

48 Huic Arabia est conserta, ex alio latere Nabathæis contigua ; opima varietate commerciorum, castrisque opplera validis et castellis, quæ ad repellendes gentiuin vicinarum excursus, solicitudo perviget veterum pro opportunos saltos erexit et cautos. Ammian. Marcellin. xiv. 8. Reland, Palestin, tom. i. p. 85, 86.

49 With Gerasa and Philadelphia, Ammianus praises the fortifications of Bosra firmitate cautissimas. They deserved the same praise in the time of Abulfeda (Tabul. Syriæ, p. 99.) who describes this city, the metropolis of Hawran (Auranitis), four days journey from Damascus. The Hebrew etymology I learn from Reland, Palestin. tom. ii. p. 666.

VOL. VI.

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CHAP. invoked the unity of God and the promises of the apostle. LI.

After a short pause, the Moslems performed their ablutions with sand instead of water;50 and the morning prayer was recited by Caled before they mounted on horseback. Confident in their strength, the people of Bosra threw open their gates, drew their forces into the plain, and swore to die in the defence of their religion. But a religion of peace was incapable of withstanding the fanatic cry of “ Fight, fight! “Paradise, paradise!” that re-echoed in the ranks of the Saracens: and the uproar of the town, the ringing of bells, 57 and the exclamations of the priests and monks, increased the dismay and disorder of the Christians. With the loss of two hundred and thirty men the Arabs remained masters of the field; and the ramparts of Bosra, in expectation of human or divine aid, were crowded with holy crosses and consecrated banners. The governor Romanus had recommended an early submission: despised by the people, and degraded from his office, he still retained the desire and opportunity of revenge. In a nocturnal interview, he informed the enemy of a subterraneous passage from his house under the wall of the city; the son of the caliph, with an hundred volunteers, were committed to the faith of this new ally, and their successful intrepidity gave an easy entrance to their companions. After Calcd had imposed the terms of servitude and tribute, the apostate or convert avowed in the assembly of the people his meritorious treason. “I renounce your society," said Romanus, “both in this world, and the world to come. " And I deny him that was crucified, and whosoever wor"ships him. And I'chuse God for my Lord, Islam for my “ faith, Mecca for my temple, the Moslems for my brethren, “ and Mahomet for my prophet; who was sent to lead us “ into the right way, and to exalt the true religion in spite “ of those who join partners with God.”