313 CONQUESTS OF THE SARACENS. 



Derar, who took with his own hand the standard of 

 the Christians, bearing the sio-n of the cross, and 

 inchly adorned with precious stones. 



A new levy of 70,000 men, under Werdan, was 

 again assembled in the neighbourhood. These 

 formidable preparations required the junction of the 

 Saracens, who Avere dispersed on the frontiers of 

 Syria and Palestine. Yezid was at Belka, Nooman 

 at Tadmor, and Amru had not left Irak. In a circu- 

 lar to the latter, Khaled urged him to join his 

 brethren without delay in their march against the 

 infidel Greeks, " who proposed to extinguish the 

 light of God with their mouths." The other gene- 

 rals had similar orders ; and by a singular coinci- 

 dence in time, the whole forces met on the plain of 

 Aiznadin on the same day (A. H. 11, or the 13th of 

 July, 633) ; a circumstance which they piously 

 ascribed to the blessing of Providence. On retiring 

 from Damascus, Khaled led the van, in compliance 

 with the wishes of Obeidah, though he offered to 

 take the more perilous station of the rear-guard. 

 The event proved the disinterestedness of his bra- 

 very, and the soundness of his judgment ; for the 

 besieg-ed, seeing the enemy depart, ventured out 

 with 6000 horse and 10,000 foot, and overtaking 

 Obeidah, defeated him, and carried off a great part 

 of the baggage, with the women and children. The 

 presence of Khaled put a stop to the rout, and of the 

 Christian army only 100 horsemen returned to Da- 

 mascus. The captives Avere retaken ; among them 

 was the beautiful Khaulah, sister of Derar, and a 

 troop of heroines from Yemen, who were accus- 

 tomed to ride on horseback and fight like the Ama- 

 zons of old. The intrepidity of Khaulah saved the 

 honour of the martial sisterhood. They were dis- 

 armed of their swords and bows, but with their tent- 

 poles they kept their infidel ravishers at bay till 

 relieved by their OAvn friends. 



Forty-five thousand Moslems mustered on the 



