Lane-Poole — Mohammadcm Treaties with Christiaufi. 245 



Muslims' camp ; and they answered, ' "We saw a people who love, 

 every one of them, death more than life, and set humility ahove 

 pride, who have no desire or enjoyment in this world, who sit in the 

 dust and eat upon their knees,* and their commander is like all the 

 rest; you cannot distinguish the strong from the weak, nor the 

 master from the slave.' This report increased the dread which the 

 Arabs inspired. The negotiations were continued on the island of er- 

 Rawda ; but el-Midiawkis could obtain no modification of the terms. 

 Fighting with the garrison of Babylon was accordingly renewed ; but 

 finally el-Mukawkis persuaded the people that resistance was hope- 

 less, and 'Amr's terms were accepted — a poll-tax of two dinars a head, 

 except from old men, children, and women, with three days' mainten- 

 ance for the Muslims. 



In spite of superficial differences, Makrizi's story tallies with 

 Tabari's. In each there is the contrast between the willingness of 

 the Egyptians to treat and the stubborn resistance of the Roman 

 garrison. In each we find the capture of a fort and gate to be the 

 decisive event which hastened the conclusion of the Treaty. In each 

 it is essentially a treaty with the Copts, not with the Romans, though 

 Romans who submitted were included. Makrizi's statement that 

 the negotiations took place during high Mle, coupled with the remark 

 that they began after there had been a month's fighting at tlie 

 fortress, though it does not agree with Tabari's " four days," shows 

 that this treaty must have been made about October, 640. It cannot 

 therefore refer to the final evacuation of Babylon, which is definitely 

 fixed at 9 April, 641. The capture of the fort, .-^ls'I, must evidently 

 be distinguished from the fall of the castle, ^^\ , and must represent 



* Mr. Butler's translation of m C-^ ) Jx , 'on horseback,' is obviously a 



Jiiistake. ' 



