his wives were demolished, which at first caused much discontent in
Medina, some crying out that thereby a verse of the Book of God (S. 49,
v. 4) was cancelled. With this exception, the citizens of Medina had
nothing to complain of. The vicegerent of Abdalmalik had treated them
harshly. Walid immediately on his accession appointed as governor of
Hejaz his cousin Omar b. Abdalaziz, who was received there with joy, his
devoutness and gentle character being well known. But the reputation of
Omar attracted to the two holy cities a great number of the inhabitants
of Irak, who had been deeply involved in the rebellion of Ibn Ash'ath.
Hajjaj, however, was not the man to allow the formation of a fresh
nucleus of sedition, and persuaded the caliph to dismiss Omar in the
year 712, and appoint Othman b. Hayyan at Medina and Khalid al-Qasri at
Mecca. These two prefects compelled the refugees to return to Irak,
where many of them were severely treated and even put to death by
Hajjaj.

Few people have been so slandered as this great viceroy of the Orient.
In reality he was a man of extraordinary ability, and accomplished the
task committed to him with vigour and energy. To his unflagging
constancy was due the suppression of the dangerous rebellion of Ibn
Ash'ath. After the restoration of peace his capacity for organization
was displayed in all directions. The draining and tilling of submerged
or uncultivated land on a large scale, the promotion of agriculture in
every way, in particular by the digging of channels, and the regulation
of the system of taxation, were carried out on his initiative. He showed
the utmost wisdom in the selection of his lieutenants. The fear of his
name was so great that even in the desert there was security for life
and property, and his brilliant military successes were unquestionably
due in a great measure to the care which he bestowed on equipment and
commissariat. The heavy expenses entailed thereby were largely met by
the booty which he won. Hajjaj was a sincere Moslem; this, however, did
not prevent him from attacking Ibn Zobair in the Holy City, nor again
from punishing rebels, though they bore the name of holy men. He enjoyed
the entire confidence of Abdalmalik with Walid, but Suleiman, the
appointed successor, regarded him with disfavour. Yazid b. Mohallab,
whom he had recalled from Khorasan, and imprisoned, had escaped and put
himself under the protection of Suleiman, who made himself surety for