te 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. * Note: Several modern travellers
(Mr. Fazakerley, in Walpole's Travels in the East, vol. xi. 371) give
very amusing accounts of the terms on which the monks of Mount Sinai
live with the neighboring Bedoweens. Such, probably, was their
relative state in older times, wherever the Arab retained his Bedoween
habits.--M.]

[Footnote 47: Even in the seventh century, the monks were generally
laymen: 'hey 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.)]

[Footnote 4711: Compare Price, p. 90.--M.]

Chapter LI: Conquests By The Arabs.--Part III.

Another expedition of the conquerors of Damascus will equally display
their avidity and their contempt for the riches of the present world.
They were informed that the produce and manufactures of the country were
annually collected in the fair of Abyla, [64] about thirty miles from
the city; that the cell of a devout hermit was visited at the same
time by a multitude of pilgrims; and that the festival of trade and
superstition would be ennobled by the nuptials of the daughter of the
governor of Tripoli. Abdallah, the son of Jaafar, a glorious and holy
martyr, undertook, with a banner of five hundred horse, the pious and
profitable commission of despoiling the infidels. As he approached the
fair of Abyla, he was astonished by the report of this mighty concourse
of Jews and Christians, Greeks, and Armenians, of natives of Syria and
of strangers of Egypt, to the number of ten thousand, besides a guard of
five thousand horse that attended the person of the bride. The Saracens
paused: "For my own part," said Abdallah, "I dare not go back: our foes
are many, our danger is great, but our reward is splendid and secure,
either in this life or in the life to come. Let every man, according
to his inclination, advance or retire." Not a Mussulman deserted his
standard. "Lead the way," said Abdallah to his Christian